A gunman opened fire at Risbergska School in Örebro, Sweden, on 4 February, killing 11 people, including himself, and injuring six others. Terrified students barricaded themselves in classrooms as armed police exchanged fire with the suspect. Authorities believe the gunman acted alone, but investigations are ongoing.
Risbergska School, located on a large educational campus in Örebro, serves adult students and is in Sweden’s sixth-largest city, 200 km west of Stockholm. The first emergency calls reached police at around 12:30 pm local time (11:44 GMT). Students described hearing gunshots and screams before police arrived.
The police confirmed the death toll in a statement issued late on 4 February, identifying the suspect among the dead. According to Örebro University Hospital, five of the six injured are being treated for gunshot wounds.
Eyewitness accounts of the attack
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as students fled the school or took cover. Andreas Sundling, 28, a student at the school, told Expressen that he heard “three bangs and loud screams” before barricading himself inside a classroom.
Maria Pegado, 54, a teacher, recounted how a man burst into her classroom and shouted for everyone to evacuate. “I took my 15 students into the hallway and we started running,” she told Reuters. “Then I heard two shots, but we managed to get out.”
She described seeing injured people being dragged from the scene. “I saw people dragging the injured out, first one, then another. I realised it was very serious,” Pegado said.
Details of the investigation
Police chief Roberto Eid Forest confirmed that the gunman was found with a gunshot wound and is believed to have acted alone. However, detectives have not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects, stressing that the situation remains fluid. Authorities have not found any evidence linking the incident to terrorism.
No previous criminal record or gang affiliation has been identified for the suspect. A property in Örebro was raided, and police helicopters were deployed as part of the response.
The incident is being treated as an “attempted murder, arson, and aggravated weapons offence.”
Reactions from officials and leaders
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned the shooting, calling it the worst mass shooting in Sweden’s history. He described the day as “painful” and extended condolences to the victims and their families. “Being confined to a classroom with fear for your own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience,” he said.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer highlighted the severity of the incident, stating that it has shaken Swedish society. Sweden’s security services are assisting in the ongoing investigation.
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf also expressed his condolences, praising the swift response of police, rescue teams, and medical personnel. “We send our condolences tonight to the families and friends of the deceased,” the king said.
International support came from neighbouring countries. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking after a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, described the shooting as “a terrible situation” and extended Denmark’s solidarity with Sweden.
Authorities have reassured the public that the immediate threat has been contained, and schools that were evacuated have since reopened. However, the investigation continues, with police working to identify the victims and determine any potential motives.
With Sweden reeling from what has been described as its deadliest mass shooting, the nation now looks to law enforcement for answers as it mourns the lives lost in this tragic event.
