On February 4, 2025, a horrific incident took place at an adult education center in Örebro, Sweden, a city situated roughly 124 miles west of Stockholm. Rickard Andersson, a 35-year-old man armed with a hunting rifle, opened fire, killing 10 people and injuring five others before ending his own life.

The police were alerted of the shooting at Campus Risbergska at 12:33 p.m. local time. The violence erupted after the departure of many students who had just completed their national examinations, even though several still remained on the premises. Andersson set off smoke devices throughout the building, creating hurdles in the evacuation process and hindering emergency response.

The attack was termed by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson as a brutal act of violence against innocent individuals, marking it as the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history. While addressing the media in Stockholm, he recognized many queries were yet to be answered and refrained from revealing further details at that moment. He promised that an extensive investigation would be undertaken to expose the details and possible motives of the incident, urging the public to refrain from speculation.

Campus Risbergska offers a broad range of programs including adult primary and secondary education, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, and vocational training, as well as classes for people with intellectual disabilities. The victims were of different nationalities, including Syrian and Bosnian. The local municipality had previously identified the facility as a potential target and had conducted specialized response training for such situations.

The vast campus layout posed challenges for an emergency response. Six victims were quickly transported to Orebro University Hospital. Emergency rooms and intensive care units were cleared in anticipation of the casualties. Five victims suffered gunshot wounds and underwent surgery, with all of them being in serious but stable condition in the intensive care units. Six police officers needed treatment for smoke inhalation after searching the sprawling campus buildings.

Andersson, characterized by sources as a recluse having limited contact with his family in recent years, had legally changed both his first and last names. Despite being unemployed, he held a valid hunting license and possessed no criminal record. Preliminary investigations revealed no known links to any gangs or ideological groups.

Witnesses recounted the terrifying moments during the shooting. Healthcare student Hellen Werme, 35, along with her classmates and teachers, took cover as the gunman loomed outside their classroom. Initially mistaking the gunfire for a slamming door, they quickly sought protection by barricading themselves behind hospital beds. Werme, a mother of two young children, described it as the most dreadful hours of her life, living in constant fear of the shooter breaking in.

Mirna Essa, another student, remembered hearing a woman pleading, “No, no, no,” followed by the sound of gunfire. As chaos ensued and people ran for their lives, she returned to the school later to light a candle but found herself unable to enter the building, haunted by the memory of those who didn’t survive.

Andreas Sundling and his classmates barricaded themselves in their room, hiding under desks as they heard gunshots. They remained hidden for almost two and a half hours until police broke down the door. When they finally emerged, they found the floors covered in blood.

Mattias Jansson, a teacher, relied on his emergency training to evacuate students while gunshots echoed across the building. As survivors grapple with the trauma of the incident, the investigation proceeds.

Several nearby schools went into immediate lockdown during the police operation. Local hospitals continued with emergency protocols throughout the afternoon as the situation unfolded. The shooter reportedly fired at the officers responding to the incident before taking his own life.

The incident prompted a visit from King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia who arrived to pay their respects. Queen Silvia laid bright white flowers at a makeshift memorial near the site. Speaking to the reporters, the King stated that mourning is hard to do alone, adding that the entire country was experiencing the pain of this tragic event.

The shooting took place amid an escalation of violence in Sweden, where, despite strict firearm laws, gun-related crimes have seen a significant increase. In 2022, there were 391 shootings, leading to 62 deaths and 107 injuries. Currently, Sweden has the highest per capita rate of deadly gun violence in the European Union, although school shootings remain uncommon.

Police continue to gather witness statements and review video footage to establish a motive for the shooting. A search was carried out at Andersson’s residence, but the details remain undisclosed. The Swedish Justice Minister joined the Prime Minister in Orebro as they coordinated the ongoing response to the incident.