After police operation

High school reopens after bomb threat

The police were deployed on a large scale on Wednesday

(Bild: © Harald Dostal / 2024)

After the sensational bomb threat against the Akademisches Gymnasium in Linz on Wednesday, the school was almost back to normal on Thursday. A psychologist was available to the young people. The person who made the bomb threat has not yet been identified. He will be charged for the costs of the police operation. 

Not all 420 pupils returned to lessons at the Akademisches Gymnasium on Spittelwiese in Linz on Thursday. "There are a few more missing today than usual," says principal Gerhard Breuer (46) in an interview with "Krone". Some parents preferred not to send their children to school for the time being for safety reasons.

Gerhard Breuer, Director of the Akademisches Gymnasium Linz

(Bild: Horst Einöder/Flashpictures)

Latin Matura at another grammar school
However, the Latin Matura planned for Thursday was able to take place, albeit in a slightly different organizational form. "Eleven students took the central A-levels at Fadingergymnasium. This was already planned on Wednesday because it was not foreseeable whether our grammar school would be open today," explains Breuer. This was to prevent those affected from not being able to complete their Latin A-levels until the fall.

Classes resumed at the Akademisches Gymnasium on Thursday

(Bild: Horst Einöder/Flashpictures)

A school psychologist was also available for all pupils at the Akademisches Gymnasium. "There was also the option of calling in the state's crisis support team, but that was not necessary," emphasizes the principal.

There had never been a bomb threat against our school before. We carried out the evacuation as we would in the event of a fire. I don't believe that any of our pupils were behind this act.

Direktor Gerhard Breuer (46) organisierte die geordnete Evakuierung des Linzer Gymnasiums.

Most of the young people had survived the exciting incident the day before. "Now, of course, everyone is very keen for the bomb-thrower to be identified quickly. But I can't imagine that he could have come from our school."

School spokesman Gernot Lepschy (18) also rules out the possibility that one of his colleagues would be capable of such an act. He was alone in a class on Wednesday, studying for his chemistry A-levels, when the principal came in, told him about the bomb threat and asked him to leave the building. "I was one of the last people left."

I was alone in class and fully engaged in my studies when the principal came in and warned me about the bomb threat. There were wild rumors while I waited.

Gymnasium-Schulsprecher Gernot Lepschy (18)

Lepschy was taken to Bethlehemstrasse. "There were crowds of people there, nobody knew what was going to happen, especially the younger students were very nervous." He then left at around 11 o'clock. His brother Laurenz (16) came to the Fadingergymnasium with other younger pupils, where those waiting were offered mineral water and snacks until their parents picked them up: "One girl collapsed from excitement."

The city center of Linz was full of police on Tuesday

(Bild: © Harald Dostal / 2024)

Up to three years in prison possible
The police investigation into the anonymous author of the e-mail is in full swing, but he has not yet been identified. Once the perpetrator has been identified, he will face criminal proceedings for coercion of land (Section 275 of the Austrian Criminal Code, punishable by up to three years in prison) as well as huge cost claims from the police.

For the deployment of personnel alone (120 police officers were employed for seven hours), 28,000 euros were charged. Added to this are the costs of the helicopter flight (several thousand euros) for the tactical bomb disposal unit, which had to be flown in from Wiener Neustadt. He could also be billed for the loss of sales in the stores affected by the road closure, which lasted several hours.