On February 4, 2025, Rickard Andersson, a 35-year-old man armed with a hunting rifle, initiated a deadly attack at an adult education center in Örebro, Sweden, located approximately 124 miles west of Stockholm. He killed 10 people and injured five more before ending his own life.
Authorities first received reports of gunfire at Campus Risbergska at 12:33 p.m. local time. The shooting unfolded after the conclusion of national examinations, with many students still present within the premises. The assailant made evacuation and response efforts challenging by deploying smoke-producing devices throughout the facility.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson characterized the attack as a ruthless act of violence against innocent people, labeling it the most deadly mass shooting in the country’s history. While addressing the press in Stockholm, he acknowledged the numerous unresolved questions and stated that further details were currently unavailable. He assured that authorities would eventually reveal the course of events and possible motives while urging the public to abstain from speculation.
Campus Risbergska, situated about 124 miles west of Stockholm, offers adult basic and secondary education, Swedish language classes for immigrants, vocational training, and special programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The municipality had previously identified the facility as a potential threat and had conducted specialized response training for such situations.
The expansive campus layout added to the complexity of the emergency response. Six victims were taken to Orebro University Hospital. Anticipating casualties, the hospital had already cleared emergency rooms and intensive care units. Of the victims, five had gunshot wounds, with two in intensive care in stable yet critical condition. Six police officers required medical attention for smoke inhalation after searching the large campus buildings.
Sources described Andersson as a recluse who had scarcely interacted with his family in recent years. Despite being unemployed, he possessed a valid hunting license and no previous criminal record. He had recently altered both his first and last names. The initial investigation uncovered no known affiliations with gangs or ideological groups.
Witnesses recounted the terrifying events that transpired. Hellen Werme, a 35-year-old healthcare student, hid with classmates and teachers as the gunman paced outside their room. Initially thinking the first shots were a slammed door, they quickly barricaded themselves behind hospital beds. Werme described the ordeal as the most traumatic hours of her life, fearing the gunman would enter at any moment.
Mirna Essa, another student, remembered hearing a woman pleading, followed by the sound of gunfire. Panic ensued as people tried to escape. She later returned to the school to light a candle but found herself unable to enter, haunted by thoughts of those who perished.
Andreas Sundling and his classmates used tables and chairs to barricade their room, hiding under desks as gunshots echoed. After waiting for nearly two and a half hours, police broke down the door. Upon their exit, they found the floors covered in blood.
Mattias Jansson, a teacher, recalled his emergency training as he assisted students in evacuating while gunfire reverberated through the building. As survivors grapple with the traumatic event, the investigation continues.
Several nearby schools implemented immediate lockdown procedures during the police operation. Local hospitals maintained emergency protocols throughout the afternoon as the situation evolved. The shooter reportedly fired at responding officers before ending his life.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited the site to express their condolences. The Queen laid bright white flowers at a makeshift memorial near the site of the tragedy. The King later expressed to reporters that it is difficult to grieve alone and stated that the entire nation shared the sorrow of this devastating event.
The incident took place amid an increasing trend of violence in Sweden, where gun-related crimes have been on the rise despite stringent firearm regulations. In 2022, Sweden witnessed 391 shootings, resulting in 62 deaths and 107 injuries. The country now has the highest per capita rate of deadly gun violence within the European Union, though school shootings are rare.
Currently, police investigators are collecting witness statements and reviewing video footage in an attempt to establish a motive. A raid was carried out at the gunman’s residence, but details are not yet available. The Swedish Justice Minister joined the Prime Minister in Orebro as officials coordinated their response to the incidence.
