The Slovenian police strongly condemn today’s tragic shooting at a secondary school in Austria, which has claimed innocent lives. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and express our solidarity with the Austrian law enforcement authorities and the wider public.
Incidents like these are a stark reminder of the importance of prevention, cooperation, training, and the timely detection and reporting of potentially dangerous behaviour.
For over a decade, the Slovenian police have been systematically preparing to respond to so-called amok situations—active, life-threatening incidents— and other serious security threats. This preparation includes both preventive strategies and tactical response training.
Experience from other European countries, where such attacks are sadly more common, shows that effective coordination between emergency services is crucial in such incidents. This is why the Slovenian police regularly conduct joint trainings with ambulance crews and fire services. Such joint trainings have proven to significantly improve the success rate of emergency responses. We also closely monitor similar incidents abroad and maintain regular communication with foreign law enforcement authorities.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the Slovenian police signed two protocols last year to ensure swift notification and appropriate response to threats against educational institutions.
Preventing such tragedies begins with early intervention. We urge anyone who becomes aware of signs of violent intent or threats to life to report them immediately—whether to the police emergency number 113, to a parent, teacher, or another trusted adult. Anonymous reports can also be submitted via the police e-report system or by calling the toll-free anonymous hotline 080 12 00.
When it comes to violence, zero tolerance is the only way forward.