OREBRO, Sweden — The perpetrator of a tragic mass shooting earlier this week, which resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, had ties to the adult education institution where the incident occurred. Law enforcement officials disclosed that the shooter utilized at least one firearm resembling a rifle during the attack that unfolded on the educational campus located to the west of Stockholm.
The identity of the shooter has yet to be officially confirmed, but it is reported that he may have previously attended classes at the school prior to Tuesday’s horrific event. Authorities later discovered him deceased at the scene, armed with three firearms, 10 empty magazines, and a significant amount of unused ammunition. The specifics surrounding his death remain unclear, although officials stated that responding officers did not engage in return fire.
Campus Risbergska, the school involved, serves various educational needs for adults aged 20 and older, offering primary and secondary classes, Swedish language courses for immigrants, vocational training programs, and services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. It is situated on the outskirts of Orebro, approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Sweden’s capital, Stockholm.
The chaotic scene prompted the rapid response of approximately 130 police officers who were dispatched to the premises after the crisis alarms went off. Describing the atmosphere as an “inferno,” they believe the gunman confronted them with his weapon as they entered the building. Local police chief Lars Wirén vividly recounted the chaos: “Dead people, injured people, screams and smoke,” emphasizing the panic as many people rushed to escape both indoors and outdoors.
During the rescue efforts, officers located at least five individuals over the age of 18 who had sustained serious injuries from gunfire. As of Thursday, two of those individuals remained in intensive care but in stable condition, while the remaining three were reported to be stable after undergoing surgical procedures. A sixth person received treatment for minor injuries sustained.
The police operation required a thorough search of the extensive school building, measuring 17,000 square meters (approximately 182,986 square feet), to ascertain that there were no additional victims. As investigators continued to explore the motives behind this act of violence, they reported that there had been no prior warnings, and it is believed the shooter acted independently. Authorities have not identified any links to terrorism at this time.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community in Orebro, home to about 160,000 residents and regarded as Sweden’s seventh-largest municipality, continued to mourn. “It has been two days of shock and grief,” expressed John Johansson, chairman of the town’s municipal board, acknowledging the overwhelming sense of sorrow and the widespread desire for answers in the community.
In a show of solidarity, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson visited Orebro on Wednesday to take part in a memorial gathering. The Swedish Football Association announced that it would hold a moment of silence prior to its upcoming international matches in remembrance of the victims.
As this community and the larger nation of Sweden, which has a population of approximately 10.5 million, grapples with the implications of such an unprecedented act of violence, many individuals find it challenging to comprehend the occurrence of mass shootings within their borders. “This is not a Swedish problem; it’s an issue we’ve seen globally,” Johansson remarked.
The shooting commenced on Tuesday afternoon, shortly after many students had left the premises following a national exam. Survivors urgently sought shelter from the gunfire, taking cover behind whatever they could find. An anxious mother with children recalled the possibility of never seeing them again, while another individual used a friend’s shawl to stop the bleeding of a fellow victim shot in the shoulder. Hellen Werme, 35, shared her haunting experience, stating, “Those were the worst hours of my life. I did not know if I would get shot there and then, or in 10 minutes. You simply waited.”
While incidents of gun violence in Swedish schools are generally rare, there have been notable occurrences of injuries or fatalities resulting from other weapons such as knives or axes in recent years. Officials revealed that the shooter possessed licenses for four firearms, of which three were found beside him, while the fourth has been confiscated by police.
To legally own a firearm in Sweden, applicants are required to obtain a weapon license and demonstrate a valid reason for ownership, such as hunting or target shooting. Additionally,
