A quiet day of learning turned into a scene of horror on Tuesday as a gunman stormed an adult education centre in Orebro, central Sweden, killing at least 10 people before being confirmed dead himself.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has described the attack as the worst mass shooting in the country’s history, leaving the nation in shock.
The Risbergska school, located about 200km from Stockholm, became the site of the tragedy around midday when shots rang out, sending students and teachers into panic.
Several others sustained injuries, with at least four undergoing emergency surgery at nearby hospitals.
Swedish police say the suspected shooter was a lone attacker, not previously known to security forces, and they have yet to determine a motive. Officials, however, ruled out terrorism as a factor.
“It is difficult to take in the magnitude of what has happened today,” Kristersson said in an emotional press conference, as he urged citizens to remain calm while investigations continue.
Local reports indicate that students and teachers had to barricade themselves inside classrooms while police secured the area. Some witnesses recall hearing about 10 gunshots before chaos erupted.
Marwa, a student at the school, described a desperate attempt to save an injured classmate. “A guy next to me was shot in the shoulder… we tried to stop the bleeding with a shawl,” she told TV4 Sweden.
As Sweden reels from the attack, there are growing concerns over gun violence in the country, a nation known for its relative safety.
In recent years, Sweden has faced rising gang-related shootings, but school shootings remain rare.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer assured citizens that schools remain safe, emphasizing that security measures would be reviewed. “I’ve never seen a school shooting of this magnitude,” he admitted.
Authorities have promised to release more details as investigations progress, but for now, Sweden is left mourning an unprecedented loss.
