Sweden was left reeling on Tuesday, February 4, after the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history unfolded at the Risbergska adult education center in Örebro. The attack claimed 11 lives and left several others injured, sending shockwaves through the nation.
The gunman, identified by Swedish media as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, was found dead at the scene. Authorities say he acted alone, had no prior criminal record, and showed no apparent ideological motive.
Flowers and candles are placed near the Risbergska school, following a deadly shooting attack at the adult education center in Orebro, Sweden, February 5, 2025. REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki
The shooting erupted at approximately 12:30 p.m., catching students and staff off guard. Some were attending classes, while others were having lunch when the violence began. Witnesses described moments of sheer terror as people scrambled for safety, according to Reuters.
In the wake of the tragedy, Sweden has united in mourning. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited the site, where flowers and candles were laid in memory of the victims. The royal couple also attended a memorial service at St. Nikolai Church in central Örebro, joined by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Flags across the country were lowered to half-mast in a national show of grief and solidarity.
Authorities have urged the public to be cautious of misinformation circulating on social media, emphasizing that there is no ongoing threat to the public or other educational institutions. The investigation into Andersson’s motive remains ongoing.
Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson with his wife Birgitta Ed visit the memorial site where mourners placed candles and flowers outside Campus Risbergska School, the day after the school shooting at Risbergska school in Orebro, Sweden February 5, 2025. TT News Agency/Andres Wiklund via REUTERS
While Sweden has seen a rise in gun violence linked to gang activity in recent years, fatal school shootings remain extremely rare. According to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, only ten people lost their lives in school-related violence between 2010 and 2022. This attack marks an unprecedented tragedy in Sweden’s modern history.
Örebro, a city of over 100,000 residents west of Stockholm, remains in shock. As the community struggles to process the devastation, officials are urging the public to rely on official sources for updates and to support one another during this difficult time.
At the memorial service, King Carl XVI Gustaf reflected on the nation’s grief: “A grieving process is hard to go through alone. I think all of Sweden feels it has experienced this traumatic event.”
