What has happened?
The shooting happened on the outskirts of Örebro, causing panic nearby and leading to an urgent police response. This location is about 200 kilometers from Stockholm. Local Police Chief Roberto Ed Forest has said an investigation is in progress to find out what happened.
It is still unclear if the shooting occurred inside the school or outside. The school, called Campus Risbergska, has students older than 20. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson commented on this incident, saying it is a very sad day for all of Sweden.
Officer Forest stated, ‘We think he acted alone. The shooting is very unfortunate and affected many people. This event is shocking, unusual, and feels like a nightmare. People are advised to stay away from the area and stay indoors. Sweden’s Justice Minister Gunnar Stromer called the police operation on Tuesday effective, saying the government is in close contact with the police and is watching the situation closely.’
The number of casualties from this sad event in Sweden has sparked global discussions, with parallels drawn to similar incidents in other countries.
“In the Face of Fear: Teen Describes Life-or-Death Moment During School Shooting
An eyewitness to the attack has shared her experience of surviving it. During the shooting, a young girl in the school recounted, “A person next to me was shot in the shoulder and was bleeding a lot. My friend and I tried to help him because the police and ambulance hadn’t arrived yet.” She added, “When I looked back, I saw three people lying on the ground covered in blood. Everyone was terrified and shouting for people to get out. Since there was no police or ambulance there, we had to step in. I used my friend’s shawl to tie up his shoulder to stop the bleeding.”
Statement of teachers and witnesses
Teachers claimed to have heard gunfire and either ran away or locked themselves in. “I saw people pulling the wounded out, one after another. I realized it was really serious,” said Maria Pegado, a teacher.
Police statement about the incident
According to Roberto Eid Forrest, the chief police of Örebro, “The gunman was not known to the police and had no links to any gang. We are investigating the case in collaboration with the secret services.”