A mass shooting at an adult education center in Örebro, Sweden, has left around 10 people dead, in what authorities are calling one of the country’s deadliest attacks in recent history. The gunman, believed to be among the deceased, opened fire at the Risbergska School, a facility that provides education for adults who did not complete formal schooling.
The attack has shocked the nation, with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson calling it a “painful day for the whole of Sweden.”
Gunman Acted Alone, Motive Still Unknown
Speaking at a press conference, local police chief Roberto Eid Forest confirmed that authorities were still working to determine the exact number of casualties.
“We know that ten or so people have been killed here today. The reason we can’t be more exact is that the extent of the incident is so large,” Mr. Forest stated.
While investigators do not currently suspect terrorism, they are looking into possible motives. Police have also launched an investigation into murder, arson, and an aggravated weapons offence.
“It is still very early. The operation is ongoing, and much remains unclear. But we are working very intensively right now,” Forest added.
Eyewitnesses Recall Chaos
The shooting took place just after lunchtime, sending students and teachers into a panic.
Maria Pegado, 54, a teacher at the school, described the moment the attack began:
“Someone threw open the door to my classroom and shouted for everyone to get out. I took all my 15 students out into the hallway, and we started running. Then I heard two shots, but we made it out.”
She also witnessed injured victims being carried away.
“I saw people dragging injured out, first one, then another. I realized it was very serious,” she said.
Hospitals Treating the Wounded
According to Orebro University Hospital, five people were admitted following the shooting. One suffered minor injuries, while four required surgery. Two of them are now stable, but another remains in serious condition.
Security Measures and School Violence in Sweden
Following the attack, police placed the school and nearby institutions on lockdown, later evacuating students and staff as a precaution.
While Sweden has been grappling with rising gang-related shootings and bombings, deadly attacks at schools remain rare. According to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, 10 people were killed in school-related violence between 2010 and 2022.
One of the most infamous school attacks in Sweden occurred in 2015, when a 21-year-old masked assailant with racist motives killed a teaching assistant and a student, wounding two others.
Nation in Mourning
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, while also acknowledging the trauma suffered by students and teachers who experienced the attack.
“Being locked up in a classroom, fearing for your life, is a nightmare no one should have to experience,” he wrote on social media.
As Sweden struggles to comprehend this tragedy, police continue to investigate the shooter’s motives and the full extent of the violence.
