Mass shooting in Sweden leaves at least ten dead

There has been a mass shooting attack in Sweden that has left at least 10 people dead, including the gunman. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described it as a "painful day" for the country.

At least 10 people were killed in the shooting, according to Swedish police, although they warned the death toll could rise. The gunman is believed to be among those killed, and a search is continuing at the school for other possible victims.

"We know that 10 or so people have been killed here today. The reason that we can't be more exact currently is that the extent of the incident is so large," said Roberto Eid Forest, the local police chief.

The crime scene sustained significant damage, making it difficult for investigators to provide a definitive count of fatalities.

The shooting occurred shortly before 1pm local time in Orebro, approximately 200 kilometres west of Stockholm, at the Risbergska school for adults. This institution serves adults who did not complete their formal education, offering Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training, and programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. It is situated on a campus that also includes schools for children.

Witnesses described the chaotic scene. Maria Pegado, a 54-year-old teacher, recounted that someone burst into her classroom just after lunch, urging everyone to evacuate. "I took all my 15 students out into the hallway and we started running," she recalled, hearing two shots as they fled.

Another witness, Marwa, reported seeing a man beside her shot in the shoulder and attempting to help him, noting the lack of immediate police or ambulance presence.

Many of the students at the adult school are immigrants striving to improve their basic education and secure qualifications for employment in Sweden while learning the language.

Chief Forest indicated that the gunman had acted alone and did not currently suspect terrorism as a motive, despite acknowledging that many details were still unknown. The suspected gunman had not previously been known to law enforcement.

"We have a big crime scene, and we need to complete the searches we are conducting in the school. There are several investigative steps we are taking: a profile of the perpetrator, witness interviews," he explained.

Police have opened investigations into murder, arson, and aggravated weapons offences. "Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people," Prime Minister Kristersson stated to reporters in Stockholm, noting that it is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history.

He reflected on the pain felt across Sweden: "It is a very painful day for the whole of Sweden ... the darkness that now lowers itself across Sweden tonight," he remarked. Sweden has faced an increase in shootings and bombings attributed to gang crime, but deadly attacks at schools are uncommon.

According to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, there were ten incidents of deadly violence at schools from 2010 to 2022. In 2015, a masked assailant fatally shot a teaching assistant and a student. Furthermore, in 2017, a man drove a truck into pedestrians in Stockholm, killing five.