Sweden has been hit by what is tagged as ‘worst mass shooting’ in the history of the nation. The shooting took place in the city of Örebro, around 200km (125 miles) west of the capital Stockholm, with reports claiming the gunman opened fire with an automatic weapon.
The gunman is believed to be among those who died, with the country’s Prime Minister describing it as the “worst mass shooting in Sweden’s history”.
Shots were reported at Risbergska school at around 1pm on Tuesday with armed response units deployed to the educational facility.
The website for the Swedish police reads: “About ten people have been killed in the incident.
“We are currently working on identification. The total number of injured is currently unclear.”
Roberto Eid Forest, Orebro’s chief of local police, said in a press conference this evening that police believe the “primary perpetrator” is dead and that they do not expect more attacks.
Police also said that they do not know the motive but don’t believe it is terrorism. They added that they “had no warning sign” about the attack.
Forest has describes the shooting as a “horrible” incident, calling it “exceptional” and a “nightmare”.
Speaking at a press conference this evening, Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson said the tragedy is the worst mass shooting in the country’s history.
“Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,” Mr Kristersson told reporters.
“This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either.
“But the time will come when we will know what happened, how it could occur, and what motives may have been behind it. Let us not speculate,” he said.
Police said in an earlier press conference that at least five people were taken to hospital with four undergoing surgery. Of those, one was critically injured, two were stable and one was lightly injured.
The force urged the public to stay away from the centre as officers searched and evacuated the premises.
Students in nearby schools, and the school in question, had earlier been locked in “for safety reasons,” with police spokesperson Lars Hedelin telling media there was a “danger to life” warning in place.
“This is currently seen as an attempted murder, arson and aggravated weapons offence,” the force said in an earlier statement.
Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter said police officers had been shot at but police said no officers had been shot.
Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported one person trapped in the school saying “we have heard several shots outside”.
The newspaper also quoted a person who had received a text from a teacher at the school saying “there was a shooting with automatic weapons”.
The Associated Press said the school was an adult education centre.
These centres are attended primarily by people who did not finish primary or secondary school.
The school is for students over the age of 20, according to its website.
The reports of violence in Orebro are very serious. The police are on site and the operation is in full swing,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer told Swedish news agency TT.
“The government is in close contact with the police, and is closely following developments.”
“It is a very painful day for all of Sweden,” Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson said on X.
“My thoughts are also with all those whose normal school day was exchanged for terror.
“Being confined to a classroom with fear for one’s own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience.
“The government is in close contact with the police and is following developments,” he added.
“My call is also to now give the police the peace of mind they need to investigate what happened and how these horrific crimes could have happened.”
