An 18-year-old man armed with a sword attacked a school in central Sweden on Friday, killing one person and seriously injuring two boys. The suspect was arrested following the incident at Brinell School in Fagersta, a town located northwest of the capital, Stockholm.
Police Chief Tommy Alriksson stated that shots were fired during the arrest. The suspect was taken into custody and was not reported to be injured. The school has approximately 400 to 500 students, and the attack occurred while classes were in session. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and authorities stated there is no immediate reason to believe there were multiple perpetrators.
The two seriously injured individuals are boys between the ages of 12 and 17, according to the TT news agency. Details regarding the identity of the person who died have not been released. The alarm was received in the early afternoon on Friday, leading to a wide police cordon around the school. Several nearby schools were placed on lockdown, and roadblocks were established.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed sorrow over the violence, noting it occurred shortly after the summer break. He stated that the police are working intensively to understand the circumstances and extended his thoughts to those affected.
A crisis center was established by the Fagersta city government in a nearby sports hall to support those impacted. The Vastmanland County government confirmed that emergency services, including police, fire, and healthcare workers, were providing care.
Investigators have conducted two house searches in connection with the suspect and anticipate interviewing numerous witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation. Police have withheld further details to avoid influencing witness testimonies.