Sweden school shooting latest: Calls for changes to gun laws as police refuse to rule out racist motivation – UK Times

Some 130 officers arrived on Tuesday after alarms summoned them to the school to find chaos across the campus.

They described the scene as an “inferno” and believe the gunman turned his weapon toward them as they entered the building.

“Dead people, injured people, screams and smoke,” local police chief Lars Wiren said during a news conference. “Many people running inside and outside the premises.”

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud offered condolences to Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf after 10 people were killed in one of the worst shooting incidents in the country.

Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud condemned “this criminal act, and extended his deepest condolences and sincere sympathy” to the Swedish king, families of the deceased and friendly people of Sweden, a statement read.

As well as the 11 people dead, officers found at least five people, all over age 18, with serious gunshot wounds.

Two of them remained in intensive care Thursday in serious but stable condition. The other three were in stable condition after surgery.

A sixth person was treated for minor injuries.

Former Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson has called for immediate reconsideration of gun laws following the mass shooting in Orebro, where 10 people were killed.

“What we already know is that there are too many guns that are available in our society, so we have to do something about that,” the leader of opposition Social Democrats told The Guardian.

Ms Andersson also called for the EU to curb social media platforms that she said served up far too much violence to the youth.

The shooter who earlier this week killed 10 people in Sweden’s worst mass shooting was connected to the adult education centre where he opened fire with at least one rifle-like weapon, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

Authorities said the gunman, who has not yet been officially identified, may have attended school there before Tuesday’s violence on the school campus west of Stockholm.

The gunman who opened fire at an adult education centre, killing 10 people, lived as a recluse, his neighbour told CNN.

The suspect has not been officially named by the police but Swedish reports confirmed his identity as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson.

PJ Samuelsson, who lived next door to the suspect since May 2024, said he has never seen or heard his neighbour.

“I couldn’t come up here. They said you’ll have to wait a couple of hours,” Mr Samuelsson said, adding that he found the apartment block surrounded by heavily armed police when he returned on Tuesday.

He said he knew “nothing at all” about his neighbour and had only seen his name on the door. Mr Samuelsson told the broadcaster that knowing his neighbour is the suspect is “terrible”.

He said it was a “disgusting” thought that Andersson had weapons next door.

In Orebro, a town of 160,000 considered Sweden’s seventh-largest municipality, Thursday brought more sadness but still few answers.

“It has been two days of shock and grief,” John Johansson, chairman of the town’s municipal board, told The Associated Press.

“We are still asking questions of why, still wondering what has happened. The outpouring of grief and togetherness has been enormous.”

Ten people were killed earlier this week in Sweden’s worst mass shooting where the gunman opened fire at an adult education centre with at least one rifle-like weapon.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, as well as prime minister Ulf Kristersson, visited Orebro on Wednesday and attended a memorial service.

“This is not a Swedish problem, it’s a problem that we have seen throughout the world,” Mr Johansson said about the gun violence.

The shooter who earlier this week killed 10 people in Sweden’s worst mass shooting was connected to the adult education centre where he opened fire with at least one rifle-like weapon, law enforcement officials said.

Authorities said the gunman, who has not yet been officially identified, may have attended school there before Tuesday’s violence on the school campus west of Stockholm.

After the carnage, the shooter turned the gun on himself, police said, adding they have recovered three guns, 10 empty magazines and a large amount of unused ammunition next to his body.

The school, Campus Risbergska, offers primary and secondary educational classes for adults age 20 and older, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training, and programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. It is on the outskirts of Orebro, about 200km from Stockholm.