At least five people have been shot at a school in the Swedish city of Örebro following reports of automatic weapons fire as a major police operation was launched.
Shots were reported at Risbergska School in Örebro’s Västhaga district shortly before 1pm local time, with police spokesperson Lars Hedelin confirming to Expressen that ‘there is a danger to life’.
Police cars and ambulances descended on Västhaga as police locked down the school, establishing a perimeter around the building.
Meanwhile, an image taken inside the school and published by Swedish press showed a person lying on the floor of a classroom beside overturned chairs used to barricade the classroom door.
Five people are confirmed injured, according to Örebro police statement on social media, as Swedish media reported at least one individual was evacuated and taken to hospital.
‘It’s a huge effort, I can’t say more right now,’ police spokesperson Sophia Jiglind said.
But there are fears that casualty figures will continue to rise as Aftonbladet reported that hospitals in Örebro are emptying their emergency rooms and intensive care units to receive shooting victims.
Risbergska headteacher Mattias Molin said many children had been evacuated, but added: ‘I don’t know much more than that. We don’t know anything yet.’
An image believed to have been taken inside the school and published by Swedish press showed a person lying on the floor of a classroom beside overturned chairs
An image believed to have been taken inside the school and published by Swedish press showed a person lying on the floor of a classroom beside overturned chairs
Shots were reported at Risbergska School in Örebro’s Västhaga district
Police cars and ambulances are seen surrounding the school in Örebro
A suspected school shooting has taken place in the Swedish city of Örebro with reports of automatic weapons fire as a major police operation was launched
Sweden has recently earned a reputation as the European Union’s gun homicide capital.
In all of 2023, 53 people were killed in shootings across Sweden, which is home to around 10.5 million people. In 2022, that figure stood at 62 – and Stockholm’s per-capita murder rate was roughly 30 times that of London.
Experts say the violence has been driven by a number of factors: Turf wars between gangs, a growing drugs market, an influx of guns into the market, growing inequality, high level of immigration and also a failure of migrant integration into society.
Mafia groups abroad have called the country a ‘haven’ for their activities, while organised crime groups have infiltrated business sectors and found ways to smuggle military-grade weapons into the country.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow…