Sweden’s worst mass shooting leaves at least 11 dead

The massacre took place at an adult education centre west of Stockholm.

Police officers stand guard near the scene of a shooting at an adult education center on the outskirts of Orebro — The shooting took place at an adult education centre on the outskirts of Orebro, Sweden (AP)

Sweden’s worst mass shooting has left at least 11 people dead, including the gunman, at an adult education centre west of Stockholm.

Officials have warned the death toll could rise, with five other people seriously injured.

The gunman’s motive has not yet been determined as Sweden – where firearms crime at schools is very rare – reeled from an attack so violent that police early on said it was difficult to count the number of dead.

A man lights a candle at a makeshift memorial near the scene — It is Sweden’s worst ever mass shooting (AP)

The school, Campus Risbergska, offers primary and secondary educational classes for adults aged 20 and older, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training and programmes for people with intellectual disabilities.

It is on the outskirts of Orebro, which is about 125 miles west of Stockholm.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer called the shooting “an event that shakes our entire society to its core”.

The shooting started on Tuesday afternoon after many students had gone home following a national exam.

Officers at the scene of the shooting — Officers have warned the death toll could rise (AP)

Students sheltered in nearby buildings, and other parts of the school were evacuated following the shooting.

Authorities are working to identify the deceased, and police said the toll could rise. Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police, told reporters the suspected gunman was among the dead.

There were no warnings beforehand, and police believe the perpetrator acted alone.

Police have not said if the man was a student at the school. They have not released a possible motive, but authorities said there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point.

Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police district, said the gunman was among the dead (TT News Agency via AP)

Police raided the suspect’s home after Tuesday’s shooting, but it was not immediately clear what they found.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters in Stockholm on Tuesday night: “Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people.

“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.”

While gun violence at schools is very rare in Sweden, people have been injured or killed with other weapons such as knives or axes in several incidents in recent years.