Sweden: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson calls Örebro shooting 'worst in Swedish history'
Speaking at a joint press conference with Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, Kristersson condemned the "brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people", adding that at the moment it is unclear what motives may have been behind it.
"It is difficult to take in the extent of what has happened today. Darkness is being cast over Sweden tonight. It is with bottomless sadness that we have received the news from the police that about ten people have been killed and several have been injured in a school shooting in Örebro. What must not happen has now also happened in Sweden," Kristersson told reporters in Stockholm.
Justice Minister Strömmer confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway and that perpetrator also died at the scene.
"The person that the police currently assess to be the primary perpetrator belongs to the deceased. This is a person who is not known to the police before. Of course, we want to understand why, what has happened and what a perpetrator may have had for motives. We will have to wait for those answers. In time, the picture will become clearer. This is something that the investigation that has now been initiated will show," Strömmer said.
The shooting took place on the outskirts of the city of Örebro, which is located about 200 kilometres west of Stockholm. The gunman is reported to have opened fire at around 12:30pm local time, after many students had gone home following a national exam.
Students sheltered in nearby buildings and other parts of the school were evacuated. Police vehicles and ambulances, lights flashing, were seen across the parking lots and streets around the school as a helicopter flew overhead.
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.
Earlier on Tuesday Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police, said the damage at the crime scene was so extensive that investigators were unable to be more definitive on the conclusive number of those wounded.
Police raided the suspect's home after the shooting, but it wasn't immediately clear what they found. Eid Forest said police believe the perpetrator acted alone, and there were no warning signs before the attack.
Authorities said that there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point, but police didn't provide a motive.
Authorities are working to identify the deceased.
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