Five shot at education centre with people hiding under desks as lockdown sparked

A school has been placed on lockdown in preventative measures after reports of an "ongoing violent crime." Police have confirmed five were shot during the incident, according to an Emergency Responder via Swedish Police, but have now deemed the situation “no longer life-threatening” after suspect died by a self-inflicted gunshot.

Now, Police have revealed in a press conference that "five people have been taken to hospital. Four of them have undergone surgery. Two are stable, one is seriously injured and one is slightly injured." They added: "One of the injured people is the suspected perpetrator." According to them, the suspect is a man but it is too soon to comment on his identity.

The suspected shooting within an adults education centre in Sweden took place at around midday today, February 4. The incident at Risbergska School in Örebro, Sweden, was deemed "serious", and a large amount of police were present. Current photos show several emergency responders lined up outside, with police entering the building. One person trapped inside the school told the Swedish outlet Aftonbladet: "We have heard several shots outside."

First reports from the scene were released, with several people said to have been injured with six ambulances present to take them to hospital. The police are urging the public to stay away from the Västhaga area, or alternatively to stay in their homes.

One update included: "According to information provided to SVT Örebro, it was a shooting with an automatic weapon."

The police's assessment was that there was a red alert, that the situation was not under control. The hospital’s emergency room is also said to be on lockdown. The condition of the victims remains unknown as police continue their investigation, and five are thought to be in hospital.

Officials have also confirmed that no police officers were shot or harmed in the incident.

Police shared an update on their official website, and asked all locals to co-operate in the investigation and on-going operation. "The operation concerns threats of deadly violence. The operation is still ongoing," they warned.

Currently, there are no reported serious injuries or casualties, but students on the scene report of sparse information. Headteacher Mattias Molin said many children had been evacuated, but added: "I don't know much more than that. We don't know anything yet."

Students have shared images from inside the classroom. One grim photo showed a student lay down next to an overturned chair, which was being used to barricade a door.

While there are no figures on mortality, it has been reported by Expressen that some students are injured, with at least four evacuated and taken to hospital.

Police spokesperson Sophia Jiglind told Sweden's national broadcaster SVT: "It's a huge effort, I can't say more right now." Outlet Aftonbladet reported that hospitals in Örebro are emptying their emergency rooms and intensive care units to receive shooting victims.

All schools and restaurants in the area were closed down.

According to figures, some have named Sweden as the capital of gun violence in Europe. In 2023, 53 people were killed in shootings across the country, which is home to around 10.5 million people. In 2022, it was 62.

Stockholm's per-capita murder rate was roughly 30 times that of London.