Tuesday morning at Campus Risbergska in Örebro began like any other—students chatting, teachers preparing for lessons. But moments later, Sweden witnessed its deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history.
On 4 February 2025, a lone gunman opened fire inside the adult education centre, transforming the campus into a scene of horror. By the time the violence ended, 11 people, including the shooter, were dead, and many others were left injured.
Authorities quickly responded to the situation, with police and emergency services arriving at the scene within minutes. However, despite their efforts, the scale of the tragedy was unprecedented for Sweden, a country typically known for its low levels of gun violence.
Local media have identified the shooter as a former student of the adult education centre he attacked. As investigators continue working to identify the victims, police chief Roberto Eid Forest confirmed that there is strong evidence suggesting the gunman, who was found dead at the scene, took his own life.
This attack occurred just after 12:30 pm on Tuesday at Campus Risbergska.
Here’s what is known about the suspected gunman so far.
📌 Identity and background
While police have not officially named the attacker, Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT has identified him as Rickard Andersson, a 35-year-old unemployed recluse. Local media describe him as a loner who lived in Orebro and legally owned a firearm.
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A former student, Andersson had also attended some maths classes at Risbergska some years ago, and had been unemployed for a decade.
A relative told the Aftonbladet newspaper that Andersson had little contact with family in recent years. “As a child, he was different but lively. He did well at school. But recent years were tough for him.” Another family member suggested he may have had mental health issues, saying, “He wants to be on his own. He doesn’t seem to like people much.”
Emergency services work at the scene of shooting at Campus Risbergska School, in Örebro, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News Agency via AP)
Authorities confirmed that Andersson had no prior criminal record and had declared no income in recent years. He reportedly changed his surname eight years ago, though it is unclear why.
Hours after the attack, heavily armed officers raided a flat in Orebro registered to him, using drones and a ladder truck, according to Swedish Radio.
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📌Motive
Police say Andersson had no known links to criminal gangs, no ideological motives, and no apparent ties to terrorist groups. The exact reason for the attack remains unknown, but investigators have suggested he may have had a personal link to the school.
Local police chief Roberto Eid Forest stated, “It’s a changing situation. The information we gave earlier is still valid, but may change later.”
“We still believe that it is a one-man operation. We will return to the exact motives,” said Eid Forest.
A Swedish flag flies at half-mast outside the police station in Örebro in Sweden, Wednesday Feb. 5, 2025, after a shooting at an adult education center on Tuesday. (Anders Wiklund/TT via AP)
📌Weapons used
Swedish Radio reports that an automatic firearm was used in the attack. SVT suggests it was a hunting weapon legally owned by Andersson. Police found:
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📌Three rifles near his body
📌10 empty bullet magazines
📌 A large amount of unused ammunition
Authorities also discovered that smoke at the scene was caused by some type of pyrotechnics, not fire. Several police officers had to seek medical attention due to inhaling the fumes.
📌How the attack unfolded
At 12:33 local time on Tuesday, police received reports of a shooting at Campus Risbergska, a school for adult education. Teachers and students barricaded themselves in classrooms or fled the building as shots rang out.
Hellen Werme, a 35-year-old nursing student, described the terrifying moment, “We heard three shots, one after another, and panicked. My teacher shouted: ‘Shut the doors, lock them, and hide.’”
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Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia place flowers at a memorial near the scene of a shooting on the outskirts of Orebro, Sweden, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
The gunman reportedly paced up and down the corridors, searching for victims. Survivors later described pools of blood where people had been shot.
Police arrived within five minutes of the alarm being raised and were fired upon by the suspect, but none were injured. About one hour later, the attacker was found dead. Authorities believe he took his own life.
📌Victims and aftermath
📌11 people were killed, including the gunman.
📌At least six people were wounded, with five requiring surgery for gunshot wounds. Two remain in intensive care.
📌Many of the victims have yet to be identified, with authorities using DNA, fingerprints, and dental records to confirm identities.
Eid Forest explained that the delay in releasing the death toll was due to the size of the school premises. “It took a very long time to search and ensure that we didn’t have any more injuries,” he said.
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The Risbergska school primarily serves immigrants learning Swedish and adults completing their education. Two young residents interviewed by the BBC expressed fears that the attack may have had a racial element, given the student demographics.
Police confirmed that people of different nationalities, genders, and ages were killed. The Syrian embassy in Stockholm confirmed that some of its citizens were among the deceased, expressing deep sorrow and extending condolences to the victims’ families.
However, police have yet to confirm the names of the deceased, as the identification process is ongoing.
The local municipality has set up crisis support at Haga Church, while the Orebro Mosque has also opened its doors to assist affected community members.