‘Loner with extreme social phobia’: Who is Rickard Andersson, the man behind Sweden’s most dangerous shooting?

Tuesday morning at Campus Risbergska in Orebro started like any other—students chatting, teachers preparing for their lessons. But moments later, Sweden witnessed its deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history.

On 4 February 2025, a lone gunman opened fire inside the adult education centre, turning the campus into a scene of horror and by the time the violence ended, 11 people, including the shooter lay dead, and many others were injured.

According to Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT, Police have not formally named the attacker but he has been identified as Rickard Andersson, 35, who has been described by people as a “loner with extreme social phobia”.

So, who was this man? and what were his motives behind the attack?  Here’s what we know.

But first, what happened?

Police first received reports of a shooting at Campus Risbergska in Orebro, a city 200 km west of Stockholm, at 12:33 local time (11:33 GMT) on Tuesday, according to the BBC.

Campus Risbergska is a type of adult education school known as ‘Komvux’ in Sweden, which is primarily for people who did not finish primary or secondary education.

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Students recalled the moment of horror when they heard multiple gunshots on the premises, prompting them to either flee or barricade themselves inside classrooms. Social media footage showed students taking cover under desks.

This is Sweden now.

Mass shooting at a school has left around 10 people dead.

The gunman opened fire with an automatic weapon.

Here are students hiding for their lives.

This never used to happen before.pic.twitter.com/3zQQW8v6t1

— PeterSweden (@PeterSweden7) February 4, 2025

“We heard three shots, one after another, and panicked. My teacher shouted: ‘shut the doors, lock them and hide,’” said Hellen Werme, a 35-year-old nursing student, to TV4 News.

Authorities soon reached the scene and swiftly locked down six schools and a restaurant in the vicinity, urging people to stay indoors.

Maria Pegado, a teacher, told Reuters that she led her 15 students into the hallway before running for safety. “I saw people dragging injured out, first one, then another. I realised it was very serious,” she said.

A student recalled in a Sky News report that there was “blood everywhere on the floor” inside the centre and it was “crazy”.

At least 11 people, including the perpetrator, were killed and multiple others were injured in the attack. However, police stated that they “could not be more specific” as investigations continue.

To honour the victims, all government buildings and royal palaces in Sweden flew flags at half-mast from 9 am on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described it as “the worst mass shooting in Sweden’s history.”

Who is the attacker?

Rickard Andersson, the man identified as the suspected shooter, had been distant from family and friends for years, according to a relative who spoke to the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet.

“As a child he was different but lively,” the relative said. “He did well at school. But recent years were tough for him.”

A person who claims to know Andersson described him as a withdrawn “loner” who had been unemployed for a decade and was “having a hard time.”

While another relative noted that Andersson, who reportedly changed his name eight years ago, may have struggled with mental health issues.

According to The Sun, the 35-year-old was previously named Jonas Simon before changing it to Rickard Andersson in 2017.

He also attended a special class at the school for people with Asperger’s and high-functioning autism, TV4 News reports. His performance at school was also reviewed as “problematic”, as he failed all subjects from the spring semester of grade eight and throughout grade nine but only passed in aesthetic activities and history.

One man who went to the same school told Expressen that Andersson had a habit of walking with his hood up and his hand covering his mouth for years. He believed his odd behaviour “must have been some form of extreme social phobia”.

“Before, he had a friend he spent a lot of time with, but not now. He wants to be on his own. He doesn’t seem to like people much,” a relative recalled.

Denied military service, yet owned rifles

According to a report by The Sun, citing documents from the Swedish National Service Agency, the 35-year-old suspect had been repeatedly denied military service for years. Despite this, he was granted a license for four hunting rifles.

According to Aftonbladet, the Swedish National Service Agency explained that Andersson was never called up for military muster due to his lack of upper secondary school qualifications. Documents seen by the newspaper also indicated that he had failed to achieve a final grade in primary school.

The ongoing police investigation said that an “automatic firearm” has been identified as the weapon used in the school attack, according to Swedish Radio. However, local police chief Roberto Eid Forest declined to confirm details about the weapon or whether multiple firearms were involved.

What was his motive behind the shooting?

Authorities believe the suspect acted alone and was unknown to police before the attack, according to the BBC.

Investigators have ruled out any links to gangs or terrorism, stating that he appeared to have acted “without any ideological motive.”

“It’s a changing situation. The information we gave earlier is still valid, but may change later,” Forest said.

According to Aftonbladet, Andersson is reported to have changed into a military uniform in the school’s bathroom before opening fire. Police are exploring a theory that he deliberately spared some individuals while targeting others, though his reasons remain unclear.

Dailymail BREAKING NEWS'Around ten’ dead in Sweden gun horror, cops reveal as terrifying new footage shows heavily-armed shooter stalking corridors as students flee for their livespic.twitter.com/0qvhvUpBYp

— Penalty (@MoazMoaz777) February 4, 2025

Two young residents who spoke to the BBC expressed fears that the attack may have had a racial element, as many students at the school were immigrants.

A newly analysed video obtained by Swedish media appeared to capture a voice shouting in Swedish between gunshots: “You should go away from Europe.”

Forest also revealed that officers responding to the scene were “shot at,” though none were injured. When police entered the building, they found the suspect dead, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

With input from agencies