Emotional teachers and students reflect on horror after Sweden’s deadliest school attack

A student caught up in Sweden’s worst mass shooting was forced to take shelter in a bathroom after a gunman opened fire at his school.

At least 11 people were killed and five more wounded at Risbergska School in the city of Örebro, about 125 miles west of Stockholm, on Tuesday.

Swedish media has named the suspected gunman as Rickard Andersson – a ‘loner’ who had a ‘social phobia’.

A picture of the 35-year-old began circulating on social media less than 24 hours after the massacre at Risbergska School in the city of Örebro.

Aftonbladet and Expressen reported he owned four rifles and described him as someone who ‘lived in isolation and had mental problems’.

Andersson was repeatedly denied military service, documents from the Swedish National Service Agency cited by Aftonbladet show.

Police confirmed that the gunman is among those dead, but have not yet officially named him.

The motive has not been determined by as the Scandinavian nation – where gun violence at schools is very rare – is reeling from the massacre.

Authorities raided the suspect’s home after the massacre, but it was not immediately clear what they found.

In the last 24 hours, videos have been shared showing the hell inside the school during the attack.

Hashem Shams survived the massacre by locking himself in the cubicle of a toilet until Swedish police rushed to his rescue later.

People hid under tables in classrooms as gunfire rang out (Picture: Local News Outlet via Aftonbladet)

Footage taken by him shows him desperately trying to calm his breathing as some of his classmates are shot to death on the other side of the door.

Loud gunshots can be heard reverberating through the corridor outside and bullet casing dropping on the floor.

‘People are calling for help,’ Hashem wrote as an alarm is heard blaring in the background.

His video ends with police officers bursting in the cubicle before he was finally evacuated.

Lasse, teacher at Risbergska School, recalled hearing about 20 gunshots and barricading with his colleagues for about two hours.

The 62-year-old told Aftonbladet about how he opened the door from the lunchroom and saw students throwing themselves on the floor.

‘When the door was opened again two hours later, they were dead,’ he said.

Lasse and his 10 colleagues were evacuated by police later. As the group walked outside to safety, he said ‘the whole corridor was filled with blood’.

‘We hugged each other and cried,’ the teacher said after realising he had survived such a massacre.

Authorities had admitted yesterday it was difficult to count the number of dead among the carnage.

Three women and two men, all with gunshot wounds, underwent surgery at Orebro University Hospital.

All were in serious but stable condition after being admitted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Another woman was treated for minor injuries and was stable.

Those killed are yet to be officially identified, and police said the death toll could rise.

‘This is currently seen as attempted murder, arson and aggravated weapons offence,’ police said in a statement, adding that the extent of the injuries of the five people who had been shot remained unclear.

Aftonbladet said a local hospital was prepared in advance for an influx of patients, with the emergency room and intensive care unit currently being emptied for victims.

A helicopter spotted above the school after the rampage (Picture: AP)

A major police operation is underway at Risbergska School in the city of Örebro (Picture: Shutterstock)

‘Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,’ the prime minister told reporters yesterday.

‘This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either.

‘But the time will come when we will know what happened, how it could occur, and what motives may have been behind it. Let us not speculate,’ he said.

Daniel Helldén, spokesperson for the Green Party, said his thoughts go out to the students, staff and their relatives.

He wrote on X: ‘It’s terrible what we’re getting from Örebro. My thoughts go out to everyone affected: students, staff, relatives.

‘It is unacceptable that this is happening and that the violence is spreading more and more.’

Grace Cooper