A deadly shooting at an adult education center in Orebro, Sweden, killed 11 people on Tuesday. Police confirmed that the gunman was among the dead. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called it a “painful” day for the nation.
Authorities Search for More Victims
Meanwhile, authorities continued searching the school for additional victims. The gunman’s motive remained unclear. Local police chief Roberto Eid Forest stated, “We know that 10 or so people have been killed here today. The reason that we can’t be more exact currently is that the extent of the incident is so large.”
Later in the evening, police updated the death toll to 11. However, they still could not confirm the number of injured victims. “At this time, there are 11 deaths due to the incident. The number of injured is still unclear,” police said in a statement.
Police Believe Shooter Acted Alone
So far, investigators believe the gunman acted alone. Forest clarified that terrorism was not considered a motive at this stage. “We have a big crime scene. We have to complete the searches we are conducting in the school,” he explained.
At the same time, police continued to build a profile of the suspect and interviewed witnesses. They confirmed that the shooter was not previously known to authorities.
Attack Took Place at an Adult Education School
The attack occurred at Risbergska school, which helps adults complete their education. Notably, the school is part of a larger campus that also houses institutions for children.
Outside Orebro University Hospital, Ali Elmokad desperately searched for his missing relative. “We’ve been trying to get hold of him all day, we haven’t been successful,” he said.
Additionally, his friend, who was inside the school, described the chaos. “What she saw was so terrible. She only saw people lying on the floor, injured and blood everywhere,” he recalled.
Police Conduct Raids After the Attack
Shortly after the shooting, officers searched multiple locations in Orebro. They also raided an apartment building in the city center.
Eyewitness Lingam Tuohmaki saw the operation firsthand. “We saw a lot of police with drawn weapons. We were at home and heard a commotion outside,” he said.
Leaders Express Shock and Grief
As the news spread, Swedish leaders reacted with shock. Prime Minister Kristersson called it the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history. “It is hard to take in the full extent of what has happened today – the darkness that now lowers itself across Sweden tonight,” he stated.
Similarly, King Carl XVI Gustav shared his sorrow. “It is with deep sadness and dismay that my family and I received the news about the terrible atrocity in Orebro,” he said.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity. “In this dark hour, we stand with the people of Sweden,” she wrote on X.
Teacher Recalls Terrifying Escape
Inside the school, teacher Maria Pegado, 54, experienced the terror firsthand. Suddenly, someone burst into her classroom after lunch and shouted for everyone to run.
Without hesitation, she reacted. “I took all my 15 students out into the hallway, and we started running,” she told Reuters. “Then I heard two shots, but we made it out. We were close to the school entrance.”
Afterward, she witnessed the extent of the tragedy. “I saw people dragging injured out, first one, then another. I realized it was very serious.”
Gun Violence Continues to Rise in Sweden
In recent years, Sweden has struggled with rising gun violence, largely due to gang crime. However, school shootings remain rare. Between 2010 and 2022, only 10 people died in seven school attacks, according to Sweden’s National Crime Council.
Although Sweden has a high rate of gun ownership, most firearms are used for hunting. Yet, illegal weapons have increased due to organized crime.
Sweden’s Previous Deadly Attacks
Despite being a peaceful nation, Sweden has witnessed several violent incidents.
For instance, in 2015, a masked attacker killed a teaching assistant and a student in a racially motivated assault. He also injured two others.
Later, in 2017, a man drove a truck into a crowded shopping street in Stockholm. He killed five people before crashing into a department store.
Now, with this latest tragedy, Sweden faces yet another painful chapter in its history.
