On Tuesday, a shooting incident at an adult education facility in Sweden resulted in five individuals being injured, which may include the shooter, as reported by officials. Among the injured, one person was in a critical condition.
At a subsequent news conference featuring police and medical authorities, not many specific details about the event were disclosed following the shooting on the outskirts of Orebro, a city located around 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm. Local police chief Roberto Eid Forest informed reporters that efforts were ongoing to gather more information regarding the incident. “The investigation is somewhat unclear,” he stated during the briefing. “It is uncertain if the shooting occurred within the school premises or if there are additional perpetrators involved.”
Incidents of gun violence in educational institutions are quite infrequent in Sweden. However, there have been several cases in recent years involving injuries or fatalities caused by other weapons, such as knives or axes. Police confirmed that the gunman is among those hospitalized after the shooting on Tuesday, with four out of the five victims undergoing surgery. One individual sustained severe injuries, while two others were reported to be stable, and another was classified as having minor injuries, according to Jonas Claesson, the regional head of health and medical services. Authorities also confirmed that no police officers were injured during the incident.
The educational establishment, named Campus Risbergska, caters to students aged 20 and above. Its programs include primary and secondary school courses, Swedish language classes for immigrants, vocational training, and options for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The shooting occurred shortly after many students had left for the day following a national exam, prompting a significant police and emergency services response, including ambulances and a helicopter.
Teacher Lena Warenmark recounted to SVT News that the campus was notably less crowded on Tuesday afternoon due to the exam. She reported hearing what she believed to be ten gunshots. In response to the chaos, students took shelter in neighboring buildings while some sections of the school were evacuated after the shooting began around 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT).
Andreas Sundling, a 28-year-old who barricaded himself inside a classroom, recounted, “We heard three bangs and loud screams. Now we’re sitting here waiting to be evacuated from the school. The information we have received is that we should sit and wait.” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson commented that this was “a very painful day for all of Sweden,” according to Swedish media outlets. Expressing his sentiment, Kristersson said, “My thoughts are also with all those whose normal school day was exchanged for terror. Being confined to a classroom with fear for your own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience.”
