A man identified as Rickard Andersson, 35, went on a shooting rampage at an adult education center in Örebro, Sweden, about 124 miles west of Stockholm, on February 4, 2025, using a hunting rifle. The attack resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals and injured five others before Andersson ended his own life.
The first accounts of gunfire at Campus Risbergska reached the police at 12:33 p.m. local time. The assault was launched after many students had left following national tests, but dozens remained in the building. Andersson released smoke-producing devices across the facility, making evacuation and rescue operations more challenging.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson characterized the attack as a savage and lethal act against innocent individuals, labeling it the most severe mass shooting in the nation’s history. While speaking to journalists in Stockholm, he admitted that many questions remained unresolved and couldn’t provide additional details. He, however, assured that authorities would eventually determine what happened and its potential motives while encouraging the public to refrain from speculation.
Campus Risbergska is a crucial education center offering adult primary and secondary education, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training, and specialized programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The municipality had earlier identified the center as a potential target and had conducted specialized response training for such incidents.
The vast campus layout made emergency response challenging. Six victims were quickly transported to Orebro University Hospital, where emergency and intensive care units had been prepared for casualties. Five individuals had gunshot wounds, and two of them remained in intensive care in a stable but serious condition. Six police officers were treated for smoke inhalation after searching the sprawling campus buildings.
Sources describe Andersson as a loner who has had limited contact with his family in recent years. He recently changed both his first and last names. Despite being unemployed, he possessed a legitimate hunting license and no criminal history. Preliminary investigations revealed no known affiliations with gangs or ideological groups.
Witnesses recounted the terrifying event. Hellen Werme, a 35-year-old healthcare student, took refuge with classmates and teachers as Andersson roamed outside their classroom. Initially, they thought the first shots were a door being slammed shut, but they quickly barricaded themselves behind hospital beds. Werme, a mother of two young children, described the ordeal as the most horrifying hours of her life, fearing that the gunman could enter at any moment.
Student Mirna Essa remembered hearing a woman begging, “No, no, no,” followed by gunshots. Chaos ensued as people dashed to escape. Overwhelmed, she later visited the school to light a candle but couldn’t bring herself to enter, haunted by thoughts of those who had perished.
Andreas Sundling and his classmates used tables and chairs to barricade their room, hiding under desks as gunfire echoed. They waited nearly two and a half hours until the police arrived and broke down the door. When they finally emerged, they found the floors stained with blood.
Mattias Jansson, a teacher, relied on his emergency training to help evacuate students as the sound of gunfire reverberated throughout the building. As survivors cope with the trauma, the investigation is ongoing.
Several neighboring schools immediately implemented lockdown procedures during the police operation. Local hospitals continued emergency protocols throughout the afternoon as the situation unfolded. Reports indicate that the gunman shot at the responding officers before committing suicide.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia paid their respects at the site. The Queen laid bright white flowers at a temporary memorial near the tragedy site. The King later told reporters that it’s challenging to mourn alone, asserting that the entire nation shared the grief of the devastating incident.
This attack comes amid rising violence in Sweden, where gun-related crimes have increased despite strict firearm regulations. In 2022, there were 391 shootings, causing 62 deaths and 107 injuries. Sweden currently has the highest per capita rate of fatal gun violence in the European Union, though school shootings remain infrequent.
Police investigators still collect witness testimonies and scrutinize video footage to establish a motive. A search was conducted at the gunman’s home, but details remain under wraps. The Swedish Justice Minister joined the Prime Minister in Orebro as officials coordinated their response.