Orebro, Sweden – In what Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has described as the “worst mass shooting in Swedish history,” around 10 people have been killed in a shooting at Risbergska school, an adult education centre in central Sweden. The suspected gunman is believed to be among the dead, police confirmed on Tuesday.
The shooting took place in Orebro, a city located approximately 200km (124 miles) west of Stockholm, around 12:33 local time (11:44 GMT). The attack, which left multiple people injured, has sent shockwaves across the country.
Gunman Believed to Have Acted Alone
Authorities said the suspected shooter, a male, was not previously known to them and appeared to have acted alone. While the exact motive remains unclear, police have ruled out terrorism as a potential cause.
Police Chief Roberto Eid Forest urged the public to stay away from the area, as investigations continue. “We don’t want members of the public to go there,” he warned.
Initial reports indicated that five people had been shot, but as the day progressed, police updated the casualty count, stating that approximately 10 people had been killed. Several others sustained injuries, with at least four undergoing emergency surgeries at Orebro University Hospital.
Eyewitness Accounts Paint a Harrowing Scene
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and horror as the attack unfolded. Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT, Swedish public radio, that she heard around 10 gunshots close to her study. Another witness, a student identified only as Marwa, recounted the terrifying moments when she and others tried to save a wounded man.
“A guy next to me was shot in the shoulder. He was bleeding a lot. When I looked behind me, I saw three people on the floor bleeding,” she told TV4 Sweden. Marwa and a friend attempted to stop the bleeding by wrapping a shawl around the wounded man’s shoulder.
Ali el Mokad, whose relative was studying at the school at the time of the attack, stood anxiously outside a local hospital awaiting news. “She only saw people lying on the floor, injured and blood everywhere,” he told Reuters, describing the trauma his cousin’s friend experienced.
Government Response and National Mourning
Prime Minister Kristersson addressed the nation on Tuesday evening, expressing his sorrow and solidarity with the victims and their families. “It is difficult to take in the magnitude of what has happened today,” he said. Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer echoed the sentiment, calling the tragedy unprecedented.
Authorities assured the public that schools would be safe to attend on Wednesday. Meanwhile, local hospitals cleared emergency rooms and intensive care units to accommodate the wounded.
Kristersson called for patience as police continue their investigations, urging the public to give law enforcement the space they need to work. “Being confined to a classroom with fear for your own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience,” he wrote on social media platform X.
As Sweden grapples with the aftermath of its deadliest mass shooting, police and government officials have promised to release further details in the coming days.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members