How Sweden’s worst mass shooting unfolded at a small town school – and why police have ‘no clear motive’ one week on
“Mom, take care of yourself. And take care of my girl too,” said Salim Iskef.
Amid a cacophony of alarms, screams and gunfire, the 28-year-old uttered the final words to his fiancee and mother over the phone.
The Syrian Christian had fled Aleppo ten years prior, seeking a life of security in Sweden. Orebro was his new home, a quiet and historic city in central Sweden some 125 miles west of Stockholm, with a population of 126,000.
Last week he was among 10 killed when the suspected gunman, now officially named by the Swedish prosecutor as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, carried out the worst gun massacre in the country’s history. Wielding three guns and dressed in green military garb, he launched his deadly attack at adult education centre Risbergska School before he was found dead by police.
Sweden’s immigrant communities have been left on edge following the attack, with Syrians and Bosnians among the victims.
However, one week on police have yet to formally name any of the victims or reveal any suspected motive.
Police did confirm on Friday that they had completed the identification of all the victims, although they did not release any names. Seven women and four men between 28 and 68 years of age died in the attack, including the suspect, police said in a statement.
Swedish media named father-of-two Bassam Al Sheleh, 48, as the second Syrian refugee killed. Elsa Teklay, 32, Camilla, 52, Eva-Lena, 54, Ali Mohammed Jafari, 31, and Aziza, 68 have also been named in Swedish outlets, some only with their first name.
A nationwide minute’s silence was held at midday on Tuesday, with thousands gathering for an emotional commemoration ceremony in Orebro as Sweden mourns a rare tragedy. However, the families of the victims are still left wanting for answers.
The picture painted of Andersson is one of a social recluse with little-to-no contact with the outside world. A relative described Andersson as a “loner” who had lost contact with his family.
Shortly before 12:30pm on Tuesday, the shooter entered with guns hidden in a guitar case before he changed into military-style clothes in the toilets, according to witness accounts to Swedish outlet Aftonbladet.
Two gunshots rang outside Maria Lahdo’s classroom. When the third shot rang out, they knew something was wrong, and after one person froze in shock in the doorway, Maria dragged them out of the way and locked the door, she told Expressen.
“There was someone in the hallway who suddenly started pulling the door handle,” Maria recalled. “It must have been him trying to get in. Several people had panic attacks, it was terrible.”
Fearing for their lives, some students and teachers were able to escape campus to a nearby pizza restaurant. “I thought I was going to die. But I don’t want to die,” Saddam Al Rahoumi, who heard gunshots as he followed dozens of people running out of the dining room, told TV4.
