One of the victims of Sweden's deadliest mass shooting called his fiancee to say he loved her

In what is being called Sweden's deadliest mass shooting, Salim Karim Eskef was fatally wounded by gunfire, but he still managed to express his final love to his fiancée via video call. The 28-year-old asked Karin Alia to take care of his mother and herself, after which the call was cut off. His last act of love was a testament to his character.

When Alia called back, there was no answer. She later learned that Eskef had died from his injuries. He was one of ten victims in the shooting at the Arboga adult education center, where Eskef was studying to become a nurse. The couple had recently bought a house and were planning to get married this summer. Their future was bright, and they were excited to start their life together.

Jacob Casellia, a pastor at the local Orthodox church, told Swedish broadcaster TV4: "He carried all the dreams in his heart. Unfortunately, now all the dreams are shattered, and their light has gone out." The loss is a profound tragedy for the community, and the church is providing support to the grieving family and friends.

Authorities have stated that the shooter has not been formally identified, but he was connected to the adult education center, where he opened fire with at least one rifle-like weapon, and may have attended school there previously. The shooter was found dead at the scene with three guns, ten empty magazines, and a large amount of unused ammunition. The cause of his death is currently unknown, but officials have stated that police did not return fire. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooter's actions.

Police found at least five people seriously injured, all over the age of 18. Another person was treated for minor injuries. Investigators have not yet found a clear motive for the bloodshed. Police have stated that there were no prior warnings, and they believe the perpetrator acted alone. Authorities have said that there are currently no suspected links to terrorism. The lack of a clear motive adds to the confusion and grief surrounding the event.

The Risbergska school offers primary and secondary education courses for adults aged 20 and over, Swedish language courses for immigrants, as well as vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. It is located outside of Arboga, about 200 kilometers from Stockholm. Eskef was studying nursing there after working as a healthcare worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. The school serves a diverse population and provides important educational opportunities.

His family fled Syria's long-running civil war between 2014 and 2015. His sister, Hanan Eskef, told TV4: "We have lived our whole lives together. We worked together, studied together, went to church together. My whole life was with him, how am I supposed to live without him?" The close bond between the siblings highlights the devastating impact of the loss on the entire family.

Their family held a memorial service at the Orthodox church, but as of late Thursday, they had not yet received Eskef's body. Eskef told the broadcaster: "We keep looking out the window, thinking maybe he'll come back and knock on the door, and we have to go open it. We don't sleep, we don't eat, we don't drink. We don't do anything, just sit and look out." The family's grief is palpable, and their longing for their loved one is heartbreaking.

Swedish news agency TT reported that the government and the Sweden Democrats plan to move forward on Friday with proposals to tighten gun laws, including restricting access to semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15. Authorities have stated that the shooter had licenses for four weapons, three of which were found next to his body. Police have seized the fourth gun. Officials have only stated that at least one of the guns was a rifle-like weapon. The tragedy has reignited the debate over gun control in Sweden.

Currently, to legally own a gun in Sweden, applicants must obtain a weapons license and demonstrate that the gun will be used for an acceptable purpose, such as hunting or target shooting, and will not be misused. Applicants must also submit previously obtained hunting or shooting certificates. Hunting certificates require people to pass training courses, while target shooters must be proven to be active and experienced members of a club. The licensing process aims to ensure responsible gun ownership.

According to Swedish news agency TT, in early 2024, there were just over 660,000 registered gun owners in the country of approximately 10.5 million people. These registered owners possessed approximately 2 million guns, items that are considered firearms and weapon parts requiring a license. TT reported that 1.6 million of these guns were registered for hunting, and another 176,000 were registered for target shooting. The figures illustrate the prevalence of gun ownership in Sweden, primarily for sporting purposes.

All weapons must be stored in a safe approved by the police. Applications for fully automatic weapons or single-handed weapons are only approved in exceptional cases, and such licenses are usually time-limited. If a weapon is modified to differ significantly from its original function, the license will be revoked. These regulations aim to prevent the misuse of firearms and ensure public safety.