About 10 killed at adult education center in what officials say is Sweden's worst mass shooting
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave a news conference in the aftermath of the tragedy, which happened on the outskirts of Orebro. The city is located about 125 miles west of Stockholm.
The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students over age 20, according to its website. Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities.
'Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,' Kristersson told reporters in Stockholm. 'This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either.
'But the time will come when we will know what happened, how it could occur, and what motives may have been behind it. Let us not speculate,' he said.
Gun violence at schools is very rare in Sweden. But there have been several incidents in recent years in which people were wounded or killed with other weapons such as knives or axes.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the shooting 'an event that shakes our entire society to its core.'
While Swedes read about such violence in other places, Strömmer said that the country previously felt it wouldn't happen there. Other tragedies in Swedish schools weren't to the extent of Tuesday's attack, he said, calling it 'indescribably sad' for the community.
The shooting also sent shockwaves through Europe, with officials in Brussels expressing their outrage at the carnage.
'What happened today in Örebro is truly horrifying,' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media. 'Such violence and terror have no place in our societies — least of all in schools. In this dark hour, we stand with the people of Sweden.'
The damage at the crime scene was so extensive that investigators were unable to be more definitive about the number of fatalities, said Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police.
Police said that the death toll could rise. Eid Forest told reporters that the suspected gunman was among those killed. Police believe the perpetrator acted alone, and he wasn't previously known to police, officials said.
Authorities said that there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point, but police didn't provide a motive.
'Of course, we all want to understand why this happened, what occurred, and what motives the perpetrator may have had,' Kristersson said. 'We will have to wait for those answers — in due time, the picture will become clearer.'
Police raided the suspect's home after Tuesday's shooting, but it wasn't immediately clear what they found. Eid Forest said there were no warning signs before the attack. Authorities were working to identify the deceased.
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf praised police and the rescue and medical personnel who responded to the shooting, and issued words of comfort to the families of the victims.
'It is with sadness and dismay that my family and I have received the information about the terrible atrocity in Örebro,' the monarch said in a statement. 'We send our condolences tonight to the families and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts at this time also go to the injured and their relatives, as well as to others affected.'
The shooting erupted after many students had gone home following a national exam. Police vehicles and ambulances, lights flashing, blanketed the parking lots and streets around the school as a helicopter buzzed overhead.
Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus Tuesday afternoon after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots.
Students sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the shooting, which began at around 12:30 p.m. local time (1130 GMT).
Andreas Sundling, 28, was among those forced to barricade themselves inside the school.
'We heard three bangs and loud screams,' he told Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom.
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Los Angeles Times
11 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Europeans demand a ceasefire before Trump summits with Putin and Zelensky
Russia must agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine before negotiations can advance toward a formal peace agreement, top European leaders told Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, urging the U.S. president to 'put pressure on Russia' in his push to end the war. The meeting had an historic flair with six European heads of government, the NATO secretary general, and the president of the European Commission all converging on Washington for discussions with the president — a flurry of diplomatic activity after Trump's summit last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska sparked widespread fears over the fate of U.S. support for security on the continent. Trump first met with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in the Oval Office, striking an affable tone following their last, disastrous meeting in the room back in February. This time, Trump emphasized his 'love' for the Ukrainian people and his commitment to provide security guarantees for Kyiv in an ultimate peace settlement with Russia. Zelensky offered only praise and gratitude to Trump, telling reporters that they had their 'best' meeting yet. But an expanded meeting with Zelensky and the chancellor of Germany, the presidents of France and Finland, the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Italy, and the heads of NATO and the European Commission hinted at a more challenging road ahead for the burgeoning peace effort. 'The next steps ahead are the more complicated ones now,' said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. 'The path is open — you opened it. but now the way is open for complicated negotiations, and to be honest, we would all like to see a ceasefire, at the latest, from the next meeting on.' 'I can't imagine the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire,' Merz added. 'So let's work on that. And let's put pressure on Russia.' Emmanuel Macron, the French president, sat sternly throughout the start of the meeting before echoing Merz's call. 'Your idea to ask for a truce, a ceasefire, or at least to stop the killings,' Macron said, 'is a necessity, and we all support this idea.' Trump had been in agreement with his European counterparts on the necessity of a ceasefire for months. Zelensky first agreed to one in March. But Putin has refused, pressing Russian advantages on the battlefield, and in Anchorage on Friday convinced Trump to drop his calls for an immediate halt to the fighting. 'All of us would obviously prefer an immediate ceasefire while we work on a lasting peace. Maybe something like that could happen — as of this moment, it's not happening,' Trump said at the meeting. 'But President Zelensky and President Putin can talk a little bit more about that.' 'I don't know that it's necessary,' Trump added. 'You can do it through the war. But I like the ceasefire from another standpoint — you immediately stop the killing.' The European leaders all emphasized to Trump that they share his desire for peace. But the president of the commission, Ursula Van der Leyen, called for a 'just' peace, and Zelensky would not engage publicly with reporters on Putin's central demand: a surrender of vast swaths of Ukrainian territory to Russian control. Putin first invaded Ukraine in 2014, occupying the Crimean peninsula in a stealth operation and funding an attack on the eastern Donbas region using proxy forces. But he launched a full-scale invasion of the entire country in 2022, leading to the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War Two. In a hot mic moment, before press were ushered out of the expanded meeting with European leaders, Trump told Macron that he believes the Russian president and former KGB officer would agree to a peace deal because of their personal relationship. 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And we need the support — American and European partners.' Trump and his team largely adopted Putin's position on Friday that Russia should be able to keep the Ukrainian territory it has occupied by force — and possibly even more of the Donbas region of Donetsk that remains in Ukrainian control — in exchange for an end to the fighting. But European officials were silent on the idea on Monday. The Ukrainian Constitution prohibits the concession of territory without the support of a public referendum, and polls indicate that three out of four Ukrainians oppose giving up land in an attempt to end the war. Steve Witkoff, the president's envoy for special missions, said Sunday that Putin agreed to pass legislation through the Kremlin that would guarantee an end to wars of conquest in Ukraine, or elsewhere in Europe. But Russia has made similar commitments before. In 1994, the United States and Britain signed on to a agreement in Budapest with Ukraine and Russia that ostensibly guaranteed security for Kyiv and vowed to honor Ukraine's territorial integrity. In exchange, Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons.
Chicago Tribune
11 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump express hope for talks with Vladimir Putin to bring end to Russia-Ukraine war
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Trump's engagement with Zelenskyy had a strikingly different feel to their last Oval Office meeting in February. It was a disastrous moment that led to Trump abruptly ending talks with the Ukrainian delegation, and temporarily pausing some aid for Kyiv, after he and Vice President JD Vance complained that Zelenskyy had shown insufficient gratitude for U.S. military assistance. Zelenskyy at the start of the meeting presented a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, for Trump's wife, Melania. Trump hand-delivered a letter from the U.S. first lady over the weekend urging him to consider the children impacted by the conflict and bring an end to the brutal 3 1/2 year war. Trump at one point needled Zelenskyy over Ukraine delaying elections. They had been scheduled for last year but were delayed because of the ongoing Russian invasion. Ukrainian law does not allow presidential elections to be held when martial law is in effect. Trump joked that a similar circumstance wouldn't play well in the U.S. Zelenskyy faced criticism during his February meeting from a conservative journalist for appearing in the Oval Office in a long sleeve T-shirt. This time he appeared in dark jacket and buttoned-shirt. Zelenskyy has said his typically less formal attire since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 is to show solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers. Monday's hastily assembled meeting came after Trump met in Alaska on Friday with Putin. After that meeting, Trump has said the onus is now on Zelenskyy to agree to concessions of land that he said could end the war. Trump said he plans to talk to Putin after his meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders. 'We'll see in a certain period of time, not very far from now, a week or two weeks, we're going to know whether or not we're going to solve this or is this horrible fighting going to continue,' Trump said. The European leaders were left out of Trump's summit with Putin. They want to safeguard Ukraine and the continent from any widening aggression from Moscow. Many arrived at the White House with the explicit goal of protecting Ukraine's interests — a rare show of diplomatic force. Ahead of Monday's meeting, Trump suggested that Ukraine could not regain Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, setting off an armed conflict that led to its broader 2022 invasion. 'President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,' Trump wrote Sunday night on social media. 'Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!' Zelenskyy responded with his own post late Sunday, saying, 'We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably.' 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'I would like to see a ceasefire from the next meeting, which should be a trilateral meeting,' said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The other European leaders in attendance were: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. European leaders are still looking for a concrete details about what U.S. involvement would be toward building a security guarantee for Ukraine. Still, Rutte, the NATO Secretary-General, called Trump's commitment to security guarantees 'a big step, a breakthrough.' Zelenskyy outlined what he said his country needed to feel secure, which included a 'strong Ukrainian army' through weapons sales and training. The second part, he said, would depend on the outcome of Monday's talks and what EU countries, NATO and the U.S. would be able to guarantee to the war-torn country. Trump briefed Zelenskyy and European allies shortly after the Putin meeting. Details from the discussions emerged in a scattershot way that seemed to rankle the U.S. president, who had chosen not to outline any terms when appearing afterward with Putin. European officials confirmed that Trump told them Putin is still seeking control of the entire Donbas region, even though Ukraine still controls a meaningful share of it.
USA Today
41 minutes ago
- USA Today
Zelenskyy changed his attire and other key moments from White House meeting with Trump
European leaders flocked to Washington, DC, for a critical talk with President Donald Trump on bringing an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to the White House on Aug. 18, this time flanked by European leaders, for a critical discussion with President Donald Trump on his besieged country's war with Russia. The meeting came days after Trump failed to cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to pause hostilities at an Alaska summit and six months after the Ukrainian leader was dressed down by administration officials in a hostile Oval Office clash in February. But this round was different in tone with Trump pledging "a lot of help" for Ukraine and the Europeans thanking the president for stepping up to create space for peace talks. More: Will Zelenskyy give up land to Putin? Live from the White House showdown The U.S. will be 'involved' in protecting Ukraine after a peace agreement with Russia, Trump said, but he passed on providing details and echoed Putin in saying a ceasefire isn't needed before a deal can be achieved. Here's a look at key moments from the Trump-Zelenskyy White House meeting. 'No easy solutions': Europe arrives at the White House One by one, European leaders filed into the White House where soldiers, sailors and airmen holding U.S. state flags lined the driveway. They were greeted by Monica Crowley, chief of protocol for the State Department. Besides Zelenskyy, the administration is hosted NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. More: Oval Office meeting again puts rocky, tense Trump-Zelenskyy relationship to the test But the group wasn't part of the Ukrainian president's initial sit-down with Trump. Instead, each had lunch in the State Dining Room while Trump and Zelenskyy met in the Oval Office. With so many dignitaries visiting, the White House is having to make use of sitting parlors that are not typically used as offices such as the Red Room and Blue Room. "There are no easy solutions," to Russia's war in Ukraine, said Meloni, the Italian prime minister. "I believe we must explore all possible solutions to ensure peace and security for our nations." Zelenskyy arrives with new hopes, new look A black-clad Zelenskyy pulled up to the White House and was greeted by Trump as the two shook hands and posed for the cameras. The Ukranian president was mocked by Trump and others before being booted from the place after sporting the military-style attire in the Oval Office that he has regularly worn since Russia first invaded in 2022. It is an army-toned style of sweatshirts and polis that Zelenskyy has kept in most appearances whether when meeting with world leaders, injured civilians or armed troops. More: Zelenskyy delivers letter from his wife to first lady Melania Trump: 'Many thanks' This time around, however, the 47-year-old Zelenskyy dressed up a bit, wearing a black jacket and a black collared shirt which his designer said maintains the same "military key" and symbolism. Admiral James Stavridis, a former NATO supreme allied commander, had suggested the European leaders show up to the White House wearing olive fatigues in a show of solidarity. At one point Zelenskyy was asked a question by Brian Glenn, of Real America's Voice, the same reporter who earlier this year slammed his attire. He apologized to Zelenskyy for his previous comment during the exchange and said he looked fabulous − to which Trump agreed. "You're in the same suit," Zelenskyy told Glenn, as Trump and others laughed. "You see, I changed, you are not." Oval Office do-over − without JD Vance's heckling Eventually the two made their way inside, where Trump called it an "honor" to have Zelenskyy visit again. There was no red carpet, as some political observers noted, but both men looked to reset the relationship in front of the world, and inside the Oval Office they were joined by many of the same administration officials as in February. Zelenskyy provided the president with a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, that was written to first lady Melania Trump thanking her for penning a message to Putin that raised the plight of children in the region. More: What's latest in Russian-Ukraine war? A closer look at maps during Trump-Zelenskyy meet The first lady's letter never mentioned Ukraine specifically, but it did convey the need for a "dignity-filled world for all" and called upon Putin to "serve humanity."Things were mostly diplomatic this time around with no heckling from Trump's subordinates, such as Vice President JD Vance, who called Zelenskyy "disrespectful" during the verbal brawl in February. No such interruptions from the VP this time, however. Unlike with Putin, tough questions for Ukraine's leader One notable difference compared with the Putin summit in Alaska − besides the red carpet treatment − is that Zelenskyy fielded tough questions from the press about his actions that echoed criticism by right-leaning U.S. officials, including over the question of when Ukraine will hold new elections. Zelenskyy, whose term ended in May 2024, has paused holding elections amid the war due to Ukrainian law, but he indicated on Aug. 18 that he'd be open to holding them under a peace deal. "Of course, yes," the Ukrainian leader said in response to a question from a reporter. Trump chimed in with a smirk, suggesting that in three and a half years, if the United States happens to be at war "with somebody," there wouldn't be an election in 2028. "You like this idea," Zelenskyy said with laughter. Zelenskyy reiterated that his country needs U.S. assistance with weapons and intelligence. More: Trump and Zelenskyy meet again, but Putin has faced Trump, other presidents many times Trump backed off his quest for a cease-fire after meeting with Putin, and repeated that a larger peace deal can be achieved while the fighting continues. The president has hinted that the United States might provide security guarantees but rebuffed welcoming Ukraine into NATO, something Putin vehemently opposes. Once the meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders conclude, Trump said he plans to give Putin a call. 'Family photo' with allies, and Democratic attacks Standing between Zelenskyy and Macron, the French president, Trump posed for a photo with the European leaders in Cross Hall. More: European leaders to join Zelenskyy in Washington after Trump embraces Putin stance on war At one point, Trump pointed to a portrait depicting his assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, during the 2024 presidential campaign. "That was not a good day," he said. "That was not a great day. See the picture." Things then moved to the East Room, where Trump held court with the entire group and outlined the need for an agreement to end the war. He said there is a possibility of a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelenskyy where territorial disputes could be resolved. "It's going to be when we do, not if," Trump said. Rutte, the NATO leader, credited Trump for breaking the deadlock with Putin by bringing the Russian leader to the negotiation table. "I think if we play this well, we could end this," Rutte said. "We have to end this. We have to stop the killing, we have to stop the destruction of Ukraine's infrastructure. It is a terrible war." Putin is facing war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court after starting a war that has resulted in more than 1.4 million casualties, according to the Center for Strategic & International Studies, a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research group. Many of the European leaders noted this was the most progress they had seen in ending the war since it started in 2022, but Democrats didn't give Trump the same praise that foreign dignitaries showered him with on Aug. 18. Instead they used an AI-generated image on its party's official page on X portraying Trump being walked on a dog leash by Putin, after the president said the Russian strongman agreed with his desire to end mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines in America. Contributing: Sarah Wire, Francesca Chambers and Joey Garrison
