Sweden mourns deadliest capturing as gunman particulars emerge

Swedish police stated they have been nonetheless investigating the motive behind the nation’s deadliest mass capturing, as native media started reporting particulars concerning the gunman.

The suspect, named in studies as 35-year-old native man Rickard Andersson, was reported to be a former pupil of the college in Orebo, a metropolis 157 km (98 miles) west of Stockholm, the place the assault happened on Tuesday.

Eleven folks died within the capturing, together with the attacker, with at the least six others injured.

The assault has despatched shockwaves by the nation, with King Carl XVI Gustaf on Wednesday saying: “All of Sweden is mourning.”

Authorities are nonetheless but to launch particulars concerning the useless and injured. Well being officers stated three ladies and two males have been in a vital however steady situation, whereas one other girl was handled for minor accidents.

Police declined to substantiate media studies naming Andersson because the suspect. Orebro police stated they’d recognized the suspect however would “not publish his identify but, as a result of investigation”.

They haven’t stated how he died however indicated on Wednesday he had most probably killed himself after an alternate of fireplace with police.

Police stated they have been nonetheless investigating why the gunman had chosen to assault the Risbergska grownup instructional centre. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported the suspect was beforehand enrolled on the college however had not attended courses since 2021.

Police on Tuesday stated the suspect had no obvious hyperlinks to gangs and didn’t look like motivated by ideology.

Additionally they don’t imagine the assault was motivated by terrorism.

“We are going to get again on what motives there are,” native police chief Roberto Eid Forest advised reporters on Wednesday.

The suspect had no earlier convictions and obtained his weapon legally, native media reported.

Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT urged it was a searching weapon, whereas Swedish Radio stated police had listed the weapon as an computerized firearm.

Native police chief Mr Forest additionally defended authorities’ delay in releasing correct details about the variety of useless and wounded. He stated the dimensions of the college premises had led to delays in making certain there weren’t extra victims.

Police stated they have been utilizing fingerprints, dental data and DNA to establish victims – alongside interviews with relations.

Along with offering Swedish language courses for immigrants, the Risbergska centre additionally supplied grownup schooling for folks aged over 20 who didn’t end major or secondary college.

Earlier, Orebro residents attended a candlelit vigil exterior the academic centre, which stays cordoned off. Flags round Orebro and at authorities buildings, parliament and royal palaces throughout the nation have been additionally lowered to half-mast.

King Carl XVI Gustaf, who visited the campus on Wednesday with Queen Silvia, advised reporters: “All of Sweden feels it has skilled this traumatic occasion.”

“All Swedes are considering of these individuals who misplaced their family members,” the King advised the BBC. He stated he was “positive the nation would overcome the tragedy… a technique or one other, however it’ll take time”.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who additionally visited the positioning on Wednesday, described Tuesday’s assault as a darkish day in Swedish historical past.

“Collectively, we should assist the injured and their kin bear the grief and weight of at the present time,” he stated.

Extra reporting by Johanna Chisholm in London