Survivors Recount the Horror of Sweden’s Deadly Adult School Shooting

The tragic event unfolded at the Risbergska adult education centre in Orebro, where a gunman opened fire during class and lunchtime, leaving 11 people dead and several injured. Survivors recalled the chaos and their frantic efforts to intervene and assist others, with some using whatever they had on hand to stem bleeding while others desperately sought safety under the teacher’s command.

Police confirmed that the suspected attacker, identified as Rickard Andersson, 35, had been unconnected to previous records and appeared to have acted alone. Although authorities have not yet determined a clear ideological motive, the investigation continues into the underlying reasons behind this horrific act. Local law enforcement is re-examining the case to understand what motivated the gunman’s actions on that day.

In the aftermath of the shooting, survivors and the wider community are in deep shock. Eyewitnesses recounted seeing colleagues and friends sustaining severe injuries as gunshots rang out, with one student describing the urgency in trying to stop the bleeding of a fellow classmate by using improvised measures like a shawl. The incident has left many traumatized, with some survivors expressing a profound reluctance to ever return to the site.

The school, which caters to a diverse body of students including immigrants enrolled in Swedish language courses, now stands as a poignant reminder of the violence that has touched various corners of Swedish society. The attack occurred in a country already grappling with a surge in gang-related violence, although such incidents at educational establishments remain rare. In response to the tragedy, flags were lowered to half-mast, while King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson visited the school to pay their respects, emphasizing the nation’s shared grief over the loss of innocent lives.