Sweden school attack: 11 dead, PM Ulf Kristersson calls it ’worst mass shooting in Swedish history’ | 10 points

Sweden’s Campus Risbergska school witnessed a disturbing incident on Tuesday in which eleven people were killed. According to Swedish police this marks the country’s deadliest gun attack which took place at an adult education centre.

• The shooting incident that shook the nation took place in Orebro, some 200 km (125 miles) west of Stockholm, at the Risbergska school. This educational institution serves as a school for adults who did not complete their formal education.

• Reacting over the incident, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said, “It is hard to take in the full extent of what has happened today — the darkness that now lowers itself across Sweden tonight.”
• On this campus, schools for children are also located. It also offers vocational training, programs for people with intellectual disabilities and Swedish classes for immigrants.
• As per preliminary investigation, the gunman was one among those killed while efforts are underway to retrieve bodies of other victims at the school, located in the city of Orebro while gunman’s objective still remains unknown.

• “We know that 10 or so people have been killed here today. The reason that we can’t be more exact currently is that the extent of the incident is so large,” Reuters quoted local police chief Roberto Eid Forest as saying.
• Notably, the large scale damage at the site made it challenging for the investigators to exactly determine the cause of the incident.
• Later that day, police website said, “We currently have no information on the condition of those who have been injured.”

• Teacher Lena Warenmark, who heard probably 10 gunshots, informed SVT News there were unusually few students on the campus Tuesday afternoon after the exam.
• Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said, “The reports of violence in Orebro are very serious. The police are on site and the operation is in full swing. The government is in close contact with the police, and is closely following developments,” Swedish news agency TT reported.
• According to investigators, the perpetrator acted alone and he was not previously known to police. There was no warning signs before the attack and there were no suspected connections to terrorism, local police head said.

(With agency inputs)