Sweden in Mourning: Eyewitnesses Share Grief from Deadly School Shooting

Eyewitnesses recount harrowing experiences from the Risbergska school attack that claimed 11 lives, as investigations into the motive continue.

Eleven lives were lost in a tragic shooting at the Risbergska school in Orebro, marking the deadliest school shooting in Sweden's history. Eyewitnesses have shared heartbreaking accounts of the chaos and fear that enveloped the education center during the attack. Marwa, a student who was present, described the horror: “A guy next to me was shot in the shoulder. He was bleeding a lot. When I looked behind me, I saw three people on the floor bleeding.” She and friends attempted to help those injured, wrapping a shawl around a victim's shoulder to stop the bleeding amidst widespread panic.

Authorities report that the shooting occurred at approximately 12:33 PM local time. The police are still investigating the shooter's motive but have indicated that initial evidence suggests it was not ideologically motivated. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson labeled the incident as "the worst mass shooting in Swedish history," expressing the community's collective shock.

Reports of the shooting triggered horrifying scenes as local relatives gathered anxiously outside hospitals, desperate for information about their loved ones. Ali el Mokad recounted his fears outside one such hospital, where he was waiting for updates on a relative possibly impacted by the carnage. He relayed how a family member's friend was left traumatized by witnessing bloodshed and chaos in the aftermath of the shooting.

While school shootings are rare in Sweden, the nation is no stranger to gun violence, often linked to gang issues. Last year, a school incident occurred south of Stockholm when a 15-year-old reportedly wounded a classmate. Yet, the scale and impact of this shooting at Risbergska have left an indelible mark on the community, breeding further concerns over safety and security in educational institutions.