At least 10 people were killed and an unspecified number of others injured in a shooting at an adult education center in central Sweden on Tuesday, according to authorities.
The police initiated a “major operation” and secured the campus in the city of Orebro after gunfire was reported around 12:30 p.m. local time.
Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police, described the incident as “an awful, exceptional incident — a nightmare.” He noted that while there is no indication of a terror motive, it is too early in the investigation to draw definitive conclusions.
Police believe they have identified the perpetrator but are not dismissing any possibilities. They suggested that the shooter may be among the injured, although further details regarding the motive or the individual's identity have not been disclosed. The shooter is thought to have acted alone and is not connected to any gang, nor previously known to law enforcement, according to Mr. Forest.
Images from Swedish news outlets depicted numerous police vehicles surrounding the education center, and authorities locked down several other schools in the vicinity as part of their response.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his condolences, stating, “It is a very painful day for all of Sweden. Being locked in a classroom, fearing for your life, is a nightmare that no one should have to experience.”
While school shootings are uncommon in Sweden, there has been a rise in violent crime in recent years. Notably, in 2022, an 18-year-old student fatally shot two teachers in Malmo, and in 2015, a 21-year-old armed with a sword killed a teacher and a student in the southwestern part of the country.
Nooshi Dadgostar, leader of the opposition Left Party, reacted to the news on social media, stating, “Shocked by the terrible news from Orebro. The violence our country is going through is an abyss we must find our way out of together.”