Jack Walters
Guest Reporter
The gunman who killed 10 people in Sweden's deadliest mass shooting appears to have shot himself, police have claimed.
Swedish media identified the attacker as Rickard Andersson, 35, who carried out the attack at an adult education centre on Tuesday.
Police said it remains unclear what Andersson's motive was before the shooting at Campus Risbergska in Orebro, about 200km west of Stockholm.
The authorities stated there were no warnings before the attack and believe the perpetrator acted alone, with no suspected connections to terrorism at this point.
Police heard gunshots upon arrival at the scene and initially believed they were being targeted, local police chief Roberto Eid Forest revealed.
The shooting began around midday on Tuesday, following a national exam when many students had already left the premises.
Students sought refuge in nearby buildings as parts of the campus were evacuated.
The head of local police noted that the school's large premises made it challenging for officers to complete their search and confirm there were no additional victims.
Officers later conducted a raid on the suspect's home, though they have not disclosed what was found.
Three women and two men with gunshot wounds underwent surgery at hospital, all in serious but stable condition after suffering life-threatening injuries.
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Two victims remained in intensive care, according to regional health director Jonas Claesson.
Another woman was treated for minor injuries and was reported stable.
All victims were over the age of 18, officials confirmed.
Police had previously warned that the death toll could rise from the initial count of 10 victims.
Andreas Sundling, 28, described the terrifying moments as he and classmates barricaded themselves inside the school.
"We heard loud bangs and first we thought people were fighting outside and maybe throwing chairs and tables," he told Sky News.
The student said they realised something was wrong when they heard screaming, prompting them to lock classroom doors and create barricades with furniture.
Sundling, who has a two-year-old daughter and six siblings, said his class hid under tables as the attack unfolded.
He described seeing "blood everywhere on the floor" inside the school, calling the scene "crazy".
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the tragedy as unprecedented.
"Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people," Kristersson told reporters.
"This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either," he added.
Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf called the shooting a "terrible atrocity".
The monarch expressed gratitude to emergency responders, stating: "My family and I would like to express our great appreciation for the police, rescue and medical personnel who worked intensively to save and protect human lives on this dark day."
Campus Risbergska is an adult education centre for students aged 20 and above, offering various programmes including primary and upper secondary courses.
The centre also provides Swedish language classes for immigrants, vocational training and programmes for people with intellectual disabilities.
Fatal attacks at schools in Sweden are exceptionally rare, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.
Only seven incidents resulting in 10 deaths were recorded between 2010 and 2022.
The centre was attacked after many students had departed following a national exam, though some remained on campus when the shooting began.
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Swedish media identified the attacker as Rickard Andersson, 35, who carried out the attack at an adult education centre on Tuesday.
Police said it remains unclear what Andersson's motive was before the shooting at Campus Risbergska in Orebro, about 200km west of Stockholm.
The authorities stated there were no warnings before the attack and believe the perpetrator acted alone, with no suspected connections to terrorism at this point.
Police heard gunshots upon arrival at the scene and initially believed they were being targeted, local police chief Roberto Eid Forest revealed.
The shooting began around midday on Tuesday, following a national exam when many students had already left the premises.
Students sought refuge in nearby buildings as parts of the campus were evacuated.
The head of local police noted that the school's large premises made it challenging for officers to complete their search and confirm there were no additional victims.
Officers later conducted a raid on the suspect's home, though they have not disclosed what was found.
Three women and two men with gunshot wounds underwent surgery at hospital, all in serious but stable condition after suffering life-threatening injuries.
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Two victims remained in intensive care, according to regional health director Jonas Claesson.
Another woman was treated for minor injuries and was reported stable.
All victims were over the age of 18, officials confirmed.
Police had previously warned that the death toll could rise from the initial count of 10 victims.
Andreas Sundling, 28, described the terrifying moments as he and classmates barricaded themselves inside the school.
"We heard loud bangs and first we thought people were fighting outside and maybe throwing chairs and tables," he told Sky News.
The student said they realised something was wrong when they heard screaming, prompting them to lock classroom doors and create barricades with furniture.
Sundling, who has a two-year-old daughter and six siblings, said his class hid under tables as the attack unfolded.
He described seeing "blood everywhere on the floor" inside the school, calling the scene "crazy".
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the tragedy as unprecedented.
"Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people," Kristersson told reporters.
"This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either," he added.
Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf called the shooting a "terrible atrocity".
The monarch expressed gratitude to emergency responders, stating: "My family and I would like to express our great appreciation for the police, rescue and medical personnel who worked intensively to save and protect human lives on this dark day."
Campus Risbergska is an adult education centre for students aged 20 and above, offering various programmes including primary and upper secondary courses.
The centre also provides Swedish language classes for immigrants, vocational training and programmes for people with intellectual disabilities.
Fatal attacks at schools in Sweden are exceptionally rare, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.
Only seven incidents resulting in 10 deaths were recorded between 2010 and 2022.
The centre was attacked after many students had departed following a national exam, though some remained on campus when the shooting began.
Find Out More...