A 17-year-old girl died following a sword attack at Brinell School in Fagersta, Sweden, on Friday afternoon, authorities confirmed. Two boys, aged 12 and 17, sustained serious injuries in the incident, and a third individual suffered minor injuries.
An 18-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is being held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police have stated they fired shots upon arriving at the scene but have not confirmed if the suspect was hit before being apprehended. Swedish media reported the suspect was wearing a helmet and may be a former student of the school.
The attack occurred shortly after students had returned from their summer break. The school, located approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles) northwest of Stockholm, has nearly 500 students.
Following the incident, the region declared a state of emergency, which was lifted by Saturday. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the event a "serious incident" and stated that the motives were unknown but that police were working intensely on the case. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden expressed his dismay and sadness upon hearing the news.
Investigators have conducted house searches in connection with the suspect. Flower tributes have been laid at the school to honor the victims.