A shooting at a school in Örebro, a central city in Sweden, has left five people injured. Following the incident on Tuesday (February 4), the police launched a large-scale operation and advised residents to remain cautious.
A significant presence of police, ambulances, and emergency services was observed at the scene. Authorities stated that the condition of the injured individuals is yet to be confirmed, and the operation is ongoing.
Initially, reports indicated that four people had been injured, but later, it was revised to five. However, no police officers were injured during the operation.
Investigation and Public Safety Advisory
The police are treating the incident as an attempted murder, arson, and serious weapons offense. They have warned the public that the threat is not yet over and advised everyone to stay away from the area.
Local media outlet Expressen reported that the suspected attacker may have shot himself, though the police have not confirmed this yet. Additionally, Expressen and Aftonbladet mentioned that police officers also faced gunfire at the scene.
For safety reasons, students at the affected school and surrounding schools have been instructed to remain indoors.
Government’s Response
Sweden’s Minister of Justice, Gunnar Strömmer, described the incident as extremely serious and stated that the government is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the police.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing automatic gunfire at the location. In response, the emergency department of a local hospital has been cleared to treat the injured.
Previous Attacks in Sweden
Although school attacks are rare in Sweden, the country has witnessed several major incidents in recent years.
In March 2022, an 18-year-old student fatally stabbed two teachers in Malmö.
In January 2022, a 16-year-old student stabbed a fellow student and a teacher in Kristianstad.
In October 2015, a racially motivated attack at a school in Trollhättan resulted in three deaths. The attacker, armed with a sword, was later shot and killed by the police.