A shooting at an adult education campus in central Sweden on Tuesday left at least 10 people dead and injured others, according to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The suspect was among the dead, authorities said.
The shooting occurred at the Risbergska educational center in Orebro, a city about 120 miles west of Stockholm. The center caters to about 2,000 students and offers classes for adults studying for a high school diploma, as well as Swedish-language and vocational classes.
According to witnesses, the gunfire erupted around 12:30 p.m. local time, causing students to flee in panic. The authorities launched a “major operation” with police cars and armed specials forces officers searching the campus and surrounding area.
Gunnar Strommer, the country’s justice minister, said that there was no terror motive behind the shooting, but it is still early in the investigation. Roberto Eid Forest, the head of the local police, confirmed that they think they have identified the perpetrator, but are not ruling out any other possibilities.
The mass shooting has sent shockwaves across Sweden, with many expressing concern about the country’s rising gun violence rates. The European Union has one of the highest per capita rates of gun violence in the world, and experts attribute this to factors such as the illegal drug trade and smuggled firearms.
While Sweden has strict gun laws, shootings are still relatively rare in schools. However, the country has seen an increase in violent crime in recent years, with a record 391 episodes of gunfire in 2022. The government is now grappling with how to address this growing issue.
Prime Minister Kristersson described the shooting as “a brutal act of violence” and urged citizens to remain vigilant. The nation is in shock, with many expressing sadness and fear about the future of their country’s safety.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/world/europe/sweden-school-shooting.html