 "At least 11 people, including the gunman, were killed in an attack in Sweden.")
A gunman killed at least 11 people and wounded several others Tuesday (February 4) in an attack at the Risbergska adult education center in Örebro, central Sweden, authorities said.
Five of the six victims hospitalised underwent surgery for gunshot wounds and remained in serious condition, according to regional health officials.
No ideological motives
Police said the suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was not previously known to law enforcement. Swedish media reported that he was an unemployed man in his mid-30s who had a hunting license, though authorities have not confirmed those details.
Unverified and conflicting rumors circulated about the attacker’s possible motives, with speculation ranging from neo-Nazi ties to jihadist affiliations. However, police emphasised that there was no evidence supporting these claims.
“There is no information pointing to the culprit acting on ideological motives,” police said in a statement, adding that the attacker appeared to have acted alone before shooting himself dead at the scene.
Local police chief Roberto Eid Forest later told reporters that investigators still believed there was only one perpetrator. “We will get back on what motives there are,” he said during a press conference.
No broader threat to schools
Authorities said they did not perceive any broader threat to schools, preschools, or adult education centers, including Swedish language programs for immigrants.
Sweden has struggled with a surge in shootings and bombings linked to gang violence, giving the country the highest per capita rate of gun violence in the European Union in recent years. However, deadly school attacks remain rare.
Between 2010 and 2022, Sweden recorded seven incidents of school-related violence that resulted in a total of 10 deaths, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.
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More ShortsWith inputs from Reuters