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Students prayed under their desks as trapped teachers sent desperate texts to their loved ones when a gunman opened fire at a school in Sweden.
Armed police swooped and exchanged bullets with the suspect in the attack that saw students barricade themselves in classrooms in Risbergska School, an adult education centre in the city of Örebro some 125 miles west of Stockholm.
The gunman was injured after bursting into classrooms during the Swedish exam period with “several” feared killed and as many as 15 people injured, according to national broadcaster SVT. Police have yet to confirm if anyone has been killed or the number of casualties.
A police press conference on Tuesday afternoon said they believed the perpetrator was a man and was taken to hospital.
To follow The Independent’s live coverage of the unfolding incident click here.
One horrified parent told Swedish media his daughter saw blood at the scene as teachers helped students flee to safety. Pupils are being sheltered in nearby buildings as emergency services scour the site.
“Five persons are confirmed shot,” police said in a statement after news of the shooting broke. “This is currently seen as attempted murder, arson and aggravated weapons offence.”
Police told Expressen that there was an exchange of gunfire between police and the perpetrator. A series of loud bangs can be heard in footage shared on social media, claiming to be from the scene, as the person recording says “Oh my god”.
Andreas Sundling, 28, was one of the people forced to barricade themselves inside the school. Speaking to Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom, he said: “We heard three bangs and loud screams. Now we’re sitting here waiting to be evacuated from the school. The information we have received is that we should sit and wait.”
Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus on Tuesday afternoon because many went home after the exam.
She told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots.
The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students aged 20 and above, according to its website. Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programmes for people with intellectual disabilities.
The violence broke out on Tuesday after many students had gone home following a national exam.
Johannes Sjöberg, whose daughter is a student at Risbergska, told Swedish broadcaster SVT she was in the school and saw blood.
“We have been in touch by text message the whole time,” he said. “She arrived at the school five minutes before the whole thing and has been very scared but feels calm and safe and has been praying to God the whole time.”
Another local who knows a teacher told news site Aftonbladet that he sent a text message as panic ensued inside.
“He wrote that there was shooting with automatic weapons at the school and that they had taken shelter in a room,” they said. “Then he wrote that he loved me.”
Swedish Police said no officers have been injured in the shooting as they urged the public “the danger was not over”.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “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 of Sweden. My thoughts are also with all those whose normal school day was replaced with terror. Being confined to a classroom with fear for your own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience.
“The government is in close contact with the Police Authority and is closely monitoring developments. The operation is still ongoing and it is important that the public follows information from the police. My call is also to now give the police the peace of mind they need to investigate what happened and how these horrific crimes could have happened.”
Source: independent.co.uk
