Gunman among 10 dead in 'worst mass shooting in Swedish history'

The Swedish Prime Minister stated that a shooting at an adult education center, which resulted in approximately 10 deaths including the shooter, is considered the worst mass shooting in the country's history. However, the final death toll, the number of injured, and the motives behind the attack remained undetermined hours after the incident.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson held a press conference after the tragedy, which occurred outside Örebro, a city located about 200 kilometers west of Stockholm. According to the school's website, the school, named Campus Risbergska, primarily caters to students over the age of 20, offering elementary and high school courses, as well as Swedish language courses for immigrants, vocational training, and programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Kristersson told reporters in Stockholm, "Today, we have witnessed cruel and fatal violence targeting completely innocent people." He added, "This is one of the worst mass shootings in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers. But one day we will know what happened, how it happened, and what possible motives were behind it. Let us not speculate."

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the shooting "a blow to the very core of our society." Strömmer stated that while Swedes often see such violence elsewhere, the country previously believed such things would not happen to them. He also said that previous tragedies in Swedish schools did not reach the scale of this attack, calling it "unspeakable grief" for the community.

The shooting also caused shockwaves in Europe, with officials in Brussels expressing outrage at the massacre. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media: "What happened in Örebro today is shocking. This violence and terror have no place in our society, especially not in schools. We stand with the people of Sweden in this dark moment."

Local Police Chief Roberto Eid Forest said the destruction at the crime scene was so severe that investigators could not more definitively determine the number of deaths. Police indicated that the death toll could still rise. Eid Forest told reporters that the suspected shooter was also among the dead. Police believe the perpetrator acted alone and had no prior police record.

Authorities have stated that there are currently no indications of a connection to terrorism, but police have not provided a motive for the attack. Kristersson said, "Of course, we all want to understand why this happened, what happened, and what motives the perpetrator may have had. We will have to wait for those answers – in due course, the situation will become clearer."

Following the shooting on Tuesday, police searched the suspect's residence, but it is currently unclear what they found. Eid Forest stated that there were no warning signs prior to the attack. Authorities are working to identify the deceased. Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf praised the police and the rescue and medical personnel who responded to the shooting, and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

The King said in a statement: "My family and I have received the news of the terrible violence in Örebro with sadness and dismay. We send our condolences tonight to the families and friends of those who died. Our thoughts at this time are also with the injured and their relatives, and others affected."

The shooting occurred after many students had left for home after taking national exams. Police cars and ambulances, with their lights flashing, covered the parking lot and streets around the school, and a helicopter circled overhead. Teacher Lena Wallenmark told Swedish television news that there were unusually few students on campus Tuesday afternoon after the exams. She also told the station that she may have heard 10 gunshots.

Students took refuge in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were also evacuated after the shooting, which began around 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT). Andreas Sandin, 28, was among those forced to lock himself inside the school. He told the Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom: "We heard three loud bangs and loud screams."