More people killed in ‘worst mass shooting in Swedish history,’ the authorities say

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Police said “about 10 people” were killed at a school on Tuesday, in what has been described as the worst mass shooting in Sweden’s history. The suspected perpetrator is among the dead.

A large number of people were injured after a gunman opened fire on a campus in the city of Örebro in central Sweden, according to Roberto Eid Forest, the head of the city’s police district.

In a speech at a press conference late Tuesday, Forest explained that police were unable to report the exact death toll as the investigation was in the early stages.

Police said the perpetrator was not known to them before the shooting and that he was not associated with any gangs. They also said they did not think the motive was terror related. Police did not say what type of weapon was used by the gunman.

“We think he is a lonely perpetrator,” said Forest. He added that the shooting was “extremely tragic with many involved.”

“It’s a terrible event, it’s unusual – a nightmare,” Forest added.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson offered his condolance to the victims and their families and thanked police during a press conference on Tuesday. “Today we have seen brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people – this is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history,” he said.

When he spoke with the Prime Minister, the country’s Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called it an “unspeakably sad tragedy.”

The shooting took place on Campus Risbergska – a school for adult education – located on a campus where other schools, including them for children, are based.

Officers were first called around 1 p.m. 12:30 Local time (06:30 ET), said Forest.

Six people had been taken to the local university hospital, including five with gunshot wounds, according to Jonas Claesson, the regional director of the health care system. Four had undergone an operation, including two that are now in a steady state, he said.

CNN Affiliate Expressen previously reported that there was an exchange of shots between police and the perpetrator, quoting police spokesman Lars Hedlin. It’s unclear how many people were injured in total, but police said no officers were shot.

The public was encouraged to avoid the area and become indoors.

Students are transferred from schools next to the site of the shooting in Örebro, located 160 kilometers west of the Swedish capital, Stockholm.

Police said in a later update that they investigated various addresses in Örebro and that the work on the crime scene continued. “At the moment, police believe the perpetrator was acting alone, but we cannot exclude several perpetrators associated with the incident,” it said.

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf said his family received the news of the shooting “with sadness and dismay” in a written statement on Tuesday.

“Tonight we send our condolance to the deceased’s families and friends. Our thoughts at this moment also go to the wounded and their relatives as well as others affected, “said the king, adding his” appreciation “to the relief”, who worked intensively to save and secure human life on this dark day. ”

An eyewitness remembered the sounds of terror that filled the school’s corridors, the Associated Press reported, citing Sweden’s Expressen newspaper.

“We heard three Smell and loud screams,” said Andreas Sundling, 28, while protecting in a classroom. “Now we are sitting here waiting to be evacuated from school. The information we have received is that we have to sit and wait. ”

Risbergska school offers courses at primary and secondary school level for students aged 20 and over – including classes for immigrants and vocational education.

There was an unusually low number of students on campus at the time of the attack, according to a teacher at the school. Many students had left campus after taking a national exam on Tuesday, Lena Warenmark told State Broadcaster SVT News, according to Associated Press.

Scandinavian authorities have worked for Beat down About Pistoli in recent years after an uptick in deadly gang -related shootings.

By 2024, at least 40 people were shot there, according to Reuters. That year, police said they prevented more than 100 serious crimes. In 2023, Sweden spoke the highest rate for pistolds per year. Inhabitant.

Earlier Tuesday, Kristerssson had called for a study of “how these terrible crimes could have taken place.”

“It is with sadness that I have received information about the terrible act of violence in Örebro. My thoughts are with those who have been affected and their relatives. It is a very painful day for all Sweden, ”Kristerssson released at X.

“My thoughts are also with all those whose normal school day was replaced with terror. Being limited to a classroom with fear of your own life is a nightmare that no one should experience, ”he added.