The gunman behind Sweden’s worst-ever shooting has been named by Swedish media as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson.
After massacring 10 people at Risbergska School in Orebro on Tuesday, police believe the attacker turned the gun on himself.
Andersson was described by relatives as a “loner” who “doesn’t seem to like people”, Swedish outlet Aftonbladet reported. He suffered with mental health problems, had a licence for multiple hunting rifles, and had repeatedly been refused military service, the outlet added.
On Tuesday, 130 police officers attended reports of a shooting in Orebro, a city 200km (124 miles) west of Stockholm, at 12.33pm local time, before exchanging bullets with the suspect as terrified students scrambled for cover in their classrooms.
The gunman changed into green military clothing in a school toilet before he carried out the killings, carrying three guns and a knife, Aftonbladet reported.
Police described the scene as an “inferno” and believe the gunman turned his weapon toward them as they entered the building.
The shooter was later found dead with three guns, 10 empty magazines and a large amount of unused ammunition next to his body, officials told a news conference, with at least one rifle-like weapon used in the attack.
It was not clear how the shooter died but officials said officers did not return his gunfire.
Authorities are yet to officially name the suspected killer but a police source confirmed the name of the suspect to Reuters on Wednesday.
Officers found at least five people, all over age 18 with serious gunshot wounds. Two of them remained in intensive care Thursday in serious but stable condition. The other three were in stable condition after surgery. A sixth person was treated for minor injuries.
Police continue to investigate the motive of the attack, in a country where school shootings are extremely rare.
Daily tabloid Aftonbladet, citing relatives of the suspected shooter, described him as a recluse who had maintained little contact with his family for years.
After school he lived a life of isolation, it reported. “He’s really a loner,” a relative said. “He used to have a friend he hung out with a lot, but not now. He wants to be by himself. He doesn’t seem to like people and stuff like that.”
Swedish broadcaster SVT, citing unnamed sources, reported that the attacker held a hunting licence, like many in Sweden, and used a hunting weapon during the shooting.
