Swedish school on lockdown after ‘mass shooting with automatic weapon’ as cops respond to ‘serious violent crime’

At least five people have been shot at a school in the central Swedish city of Örebro following reports of automatic weapons fire as a major police operation was launched.

Shots were reported at Risbergska School in Örebro’s Västhaga district shortly after 1pm local time, with police spokesperson Lars Hedelin confirming to Expressen that ‘there is a danger to life’.

Police cars and ambulances descended on Västhaga as police locked down the school, establishing a perimeter around the building. Armed officers were seen approaching the school with weapons drawn. 

Meanwhile, an image taken inside the school and published by Swedish press showed a person lying on the floor of a classroom beside overturned chairs used to barricade the classroom door. 

Five people are confirmed injured, according to Örebro police statement on social media, as Swedish media reported at least one individual was evacuated and taken to hospital.

‘This is currently seen as attempted murder, arson and aggravated weapons offence,’ the statement read. 

But there are fears that casualty figures will continue to rise as Aftonbladet reported that hospitals in Örebro are emptying their emergency rooms and intensive care units to receive shooting victims. 

Witness Magnus Håkansson told Expressen: ‘I heard bangs and then I came out quite early after that. The police ordered me to lie down at the scene. I saw a lot of blood.’

There are reports that the shooter turned the gun on himself at the scene, but this is yet to be confirmed by police.  

Police in the city located 200km west of Stockholm issued a statement warning the public to avoid the area as they look for the shooter.

‘The public is urged to stay away from the Västhaga area, alternatively stay indoors in their homes or go the other way. 

‘Listen to the police officers at the scene. The operation concerns threats of deadly violence. The operation is still ongoing,’ their statement said.

It also instructed the public not to go to hospitals. 

Sweden’s Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer told public broadcaster SVT: ‘The information about violent acts in Örebro is very serious. The police are on site and the operation is in full swing. 

‘The government is in close contact with the police and is following the developments closely.’

Sweden has recently earned a reputation as the European Union’s gun homicide capital. 

In all of 2023, 53 people were killed in shootings across Sweden, which is home to around 10.5 million people. In 2022, that figure stood at 62 – and Stockholm’s per-capita murder rate was roughly 30 times that of London.

Experts say the violence has been driven by a number of factors: Turf wars between gangs, a growing drugs market, an influx of guns into the market, growing inequality, high level of immigration and also a failure of migrant integration into society. 

Mafia groups abroad have called the country a ‘haven’ for their activities, while organised crime groups have infiltrated business sectors and found ways to smuggle military-grade weapons into the country.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…