Police in Sweden say that 11 people including the shooter have died in a school shooting at an adult education center in Orebro.
According to the head of the city’s police district, Robert Eid Forest, a large number of people were injured. In what has been described as the worst mass shooting in the country’s history, the gunman fired at Campus Risbergska—a school for adults who did not finish primary or secondary education—located in the city center. Teachers at the school described hearing gunshots that led them to either running away or barricading in classrooms.
Police said that the shooter was not involved in any gangs nor was he a known offender. They also stated that there has been no indication yet found that the shooting was done following any motivating ideologies or beliefs.
The worst shooting in Sweden’s history
“We think he is a lone perpetrator,” Forest said. He added that the shooting was “extremely tragic, with many involved.”
According to a study done by Brå, Sweden is a country known to have little if any school violence at all, showing rates under three percent in the schools they studied, with some having reported no violence at all.
Matia Pegado, a teacher at the school, described to Reuters what she saw when she took her 15 students into the hallway to make a break for the exit, saying “I saw people dragging injured out, first one, then another. I realized it was very serious.”
Another teacher, Lena Warenmark, told local media outlet SVT that she heard the firing from her study.
“There were a few shots first in short succession, a short pause, and then a few more.”
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave his condolences to the many victims’ families and thanked the police for their work in a press conference.
“We’ve today seen brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people – this is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history,” said Kristersson.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf wrote a written statement saying that he and the royal family received the news with sadness.
“Tonight we send our condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts at this moment also go to the injured and their relatives as well as others affected,” said the king.
Authorities were first called at around 12:30 pm local time, and upon arrival, they locked down six schools and a restaurant in the area. People in the area were told to stay in their homes or to stay away from the area.
According to Jonas Claesson, the regional health care director, six people were taken to the local university hospital, including five with gunshot wounds. Four of the victims underwent emergency surgery, with two in stable condition.
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