Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa.
Here are the three things to take away from today’s Europe Live blog:
Sweden is reeling off the deadliest mass shooting in its history, with eleven people dead after an attack at an adult education centre on Tuesday. Six people remain in hospital. Police said their investigation is progressing, but did not offer details about the shooter or his motivation. The country’s King and Queen visited Örebro to pay their tributes (14:17 and 14:51), alongside the prime minister (12:43 and 16:37) and senior ministers, and attended a moving memorial service commemorating the victims and all affected (15:21). Investigators hope that the process of identifying the victims will be completed within 48 hours (16:17).
Belgian police responded to a shooting in Anderlecht, Brussels, with two armed suspects fleeing into the Clemenceau metro station and causing widespread disruption of the city’s network grid. The investigation is on-going, but the public prosecutor’s office confirmed to the Guardian no one was injured (14:01).
François Bayrou, the French prime minister, is almost certain to survive a vote of no confidence later on Wednesday after the move that threatened to topple the government – for the second time in two months – lost the support of socialists and the far right.
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
See you again tomorrow.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Updated
Swedish public broadcaster SVT has a story on a man who was incorrectly identified online as the Örebro attacker.
The man, who lives some 170 km away from Örebro, was alerted to revelations swirling online by a friend, and ultimately felt he had to post online that he had nothing to do with the incident.
His story comes just hours after police (10:30), local authorities, and senior government officials (16:16) repeatedly warned against disinformation and speculating about the identity of the attacker or his motivations online.
Police hope to identify all victims within next 48 hours
Police have told Dagens Nyheter daily that they hope to identify all victims of yesterday’s attack in Örebro within 48 hours.
Lars Bröms, who leads a specialist team of 30 people working on the identification, told the paper that the process involves a complex examination and they need to get in touch with relatives of the victims.
Swedish PM praises 'silent dignity' of memorial service, says focus on victims
…and back in Sweden, the country’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson has just been speaking to the SVT television after attending the memorial service in Örebro.
He spoke of “silent dignity” of the service, and acknowledged that there are “so many questions, so few answers,” before adding that “today is not the day for answers, but that day will come.”
He said police were “working intensively” to progress the investigation, repeated calls to avoid speculation or disinformation, and insisted that for now the focus should be on victims and supporting others affected by the attack.
French prime minister Bayrou almost certain to survive vote of no confidence
in Paris
François Bayrou, the French prime minister, is almost certain to survive a vote of no confidence on Wednesday after the move that threatened to topple the government – for the second time in two months – lost the support of socialists and the far right.
The decision by the Socialist party (PS) not to support the censure motion infuriated leftwing partners in the New Popular Front (NFP) and could torpedo the alliance that collectively won the most seats in the last general election.
The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) submitted two no confidence motions on Monday immediately after Bayrou used a constitutional clause known as “49.3” to pass key budget bills in the Assemblée Nationale without a vote.
Updated
French parliament debate no-confidence motion in Bayrou's government
And the French parliament is now sitting, discussing an opposition’s proposal for a no confidence motion against François Bayrou’s government.
So let’s turn to our correspondent for more on this…
Updated
Greek PM calls for calm over Santorini tremors
Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he was “a little more optimistic today compared to yesterday” about the situation in Santorini and neighbouring islands, but cautioned that he was not in a position to make definite predictions.
Συμμετείχα στην ενημέρωση για τα γεωλογικά φαινόμενα στη Σαντορίνη και τη θαλάσσια περιοχή μεταξύ Σαντορίνης και Αμοργού, αλλά και τα μέτρα πολιτικής προστασίας. Έχει κινητοποιηθεί όλος ο κρατικός μηχανισμός και θέλω να παροτρύνω τους συμπολίτες μας να συνεργάζονται με τις αρχές. pic.twitter.com/SdC1Iog9N9
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) February 5, 2025
Speaking at a meeting with leading scientists, he said there were three separate issues, with the most worrying phenomenon linked to the Andyros fault near the islet of Andyros, but insisted these were being monitored in real time.
He also repeated the call for islanders to remain calm and follow directions from local authorities.
Germany probes car vandalism with fears about Russian interference
German prosecutors said Wednesday they are probing incidents of cars being damaged, with a media report suggesting a link to Russian interference in the country’s election campaign aiming to discredit the Greens party, AFP reports.
Prosecutors in the southern city of Ulm said four people aged between 17 and 29 were being investigated for “damage to property”. The suspects come from countries including Romania, Serbia and Bosnia.
They are suspected of involvement in more than 100 incidents in which car exhaust pipes were blocked with construction foam, leaving thousands of dollars worth of damage.
In December prosecutors in the northern state of Brandenburg said they were also investigating incidents in which 43 cars were damaged with construction foam and had “stickers with political content” left on their windows.
According to the Spiegel news site, similar acts of vandalism have been reported across the country, with stickers attached to car windows reading: “Be greener!”
The incidents were initially reported in some media as being the work of radical climate activists. According to the Spiegel news site, suspicion has now fallen on Russia-linked election meddling.
According to Spiegel, one suspect told police that a Russian man had commissioned the vandalism and given detailed instructions.
He is said to have asked for photos of the damaged cars as proof and promised the suspects a 100 euro ($104) bonus per car.
Germany’s intelligence services have been sounding the alarm for months about possible Russian attempts to meddle in German politics, particularly ahead of a national election on 23 February, AFP notes.
Ireland setting up advisory panel of US businesspeople amid nervousness about Trump's plans
Ireland is setting up an advisory panel of senior US-based businesspeople to “ensure that the government hears directly from senior US-based business people,” foreign minister Simon Harris announced.
Separately, a new Consultative Group on International Trade Policy will help to discuss broader trade issues such as “protectionism, national security concerns and geo-strategic considerations are increasingly shaping national policies on international trade, including in some of Ireland’s largest trade partners.”
(Who could he possibly be thinking about?)
My colleague Lisa O’Carroll reported last week that there was a heightened sense of nervousness in Ireland that Trump’s rhetoric could translate to an attempt to repatriate jobs and taxes from the 950 US companies there.
Mostly US-owned foreign multinationals employ about 11% of Irish workers and the funding of public services is hugely reliant on the corporate tax they pay. Just three big U.S. companies account for about one in every eight euros of total tax collected in Ireland, Reuters noted today.
As the memorial service comes to an end, let us take a quick look at what else is happening in Europe today.
But don’t worry: I will keep an eye on Sweden and bring you the latest if there are any further updates.
Updated
“A city in shock, a country in shock” - memorial service under way
Nordic correspondent
A memorial service is now under way at St. Nicolai Church in Örebro, with the royals and the prime minister with his wife sitting in the front pew.
The priest opens with the words: “A city in shock, a country in shock.”
The royals led candle lighting, alongside the prime minister and other party leaders, including former prime minister Magdalena Andersson.
The service is attended by representatives of multiple faiths, who also lit candles.
'Where did the beautiful Sweden go?' Queen Silvia says
Nordic correspondent
Speaking to the media after the visit, Queen Silvia said:
I have a big wish for the whole of the Swedish people. Where did the beautiful Sweden go? I really want to ask everyone to help build it up again. To strengthen, I don’t want to say the reputation, but the name. What it means to be Swedish.
Both royals were visibly upset when at the scene and speaking with the media, with Silvia admitting that she was “finding it a little bit difficult to talk at the moment”.
Updated
Royal visit to shooting scene in Örebro - in pictures
'The whole of Sweden is mourning,' Swedish monarch says
Nordic correspondent
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are visiting a memorial near the scene of yesterday’s shooting in Örebro.
The king told reporters that he and the queen are “extremely upset” by what happened in Örebro as he visited the site of the school.
He said: “We want them to feel that they are not alone in their mourning”. “The whole of Sweden is in mourning.”
But, he added: “There is always hope for the future.”
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristerssen is also there.
Updated
US vice-president JD Vance to visit Paris, Munich during European tour
In other news, we’re getting more details on US vice-president JD Vance’s European tour this month, his first since taking office in January.
Trump’s No.2 is expected to attend the AI Action Summit in Paris (10-11 February), and then the Munich Security Conference in Germany (14-16 February).
A French diplomatic source told Reuters plans about his Paris trip yesterday, and the German leg has just been confirmed by chancellor Olaf Scholz’s spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit, AFP said.
Belgian security and interior minister Bernard Quintin visited the scene of this morning’s shooting in Brussels, and said in a social media post that “there is no place for violence.”
“This government will apply zero tolerance to any form of crime,” he added.
(Reminder: he’s talking about the new government formed only this Monday.)
Pas de place pour la violence à Bruxelles et dans nos grandes villes. Cela a assez duré!
— Bernard Quintin (@BernardQuintin_) February 5, 2025
Ce gouvernement appliquera la tolérance zéro face à toute forme de criminalité. pic.twitter.com/ZUMwNZFMKm
Gunmen fire weapons outside Brussels metro station - video
No indication of terrorist motive in Brussels - prosecutor's office
At this early stage of investigation, there is no indication of a terrorist motive for the Brussels shooting, the Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to the Guardian.
In an emailed statement, it confirmed that the police was alerted to the shooting around 6am local time.
Several shotgun cartridges were secured at the scene.
The investigation is continuing after CCTV cameras showed two suspects fleeing into the metro tunnels.
No arrests have been made at this stage. No one was injured.
Örebro attack 'forever mark a dark day in Swedish history,' PM Kristersson says
Nordic correspondent
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson has said Tuesday will “forever mark a dark day in Swedish history” as he urged the country to come together as a nation.
He invited party leaders to a meeting on Thursday where the justice minister and the police authority will update them on the latest information about the shooting. The meeting will begin with a minute’s silence.
Kristersson said:
Tuesday, 4 February, will forever mark a dark day in Swedish history.
Today, people have woken up to unimaginable sadness and pain. For those who have lost a loved one, life will never be the same again.
We are a country in mourning and we must all come together – as a nation, as fellow human beings and as leaders of the parties in the Riksdag.
Together, we must help the injured and their families to bear the grief and weight of this day. That is why it is important for me to invite the party leaders of the Riksdag to the meeting tomorrow.
He also said that a national minute silence will be held at a later stage, with further information to follow.
Not all victims of yesterday’s attack in Örebro have yet been identified.
The Swedish Board of Forensic Medicine has just confirmed in a press statement that it will be involved in the process through its DVI (Disaster Victim Identification) work.
Swedish prime minister, justice minister to visit Örebro
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson and justice minister Gunnar Strömmer will visit Örebro today, the government has confirmed.
Just like the royals, they will also take part in a memorial service at a local church.
No injuries in Brussels - local media quoting police
Belgian Le Soir daily is reporting there are no injuries after the Brussels shooting, quoting a local police spokesperson. Officers are searching the area as they try to find the suspects.
Local media are suggesting the shooting could be linked to drug gang activities in the area.
Police investigating shooting in Anderlecht, Brussels
Local Belgian media are reporting a shooting in Anderlecht, Brussels early this morning, with police trying to find the suspects who are understood to have flown towards the city’s metro network.
Brussels metro operator STIB/MIVB reported disruptions on the network, with three nearby stations closed on police orders.
UPDATE
— STIB-MIVB (@STIBMIVB) February 5, 2025
⚠️ Interruption des métros 2 et 6, des trams 4, 10, 51 et 82
Les stations Gare du Midi, Clemenceau et Delacroix sont fermées sur ordre de la police.
🚇 Métro 2 et 6 sont interrompus entre Trône et Gare de l'Ouest.
🚋 Trams 4 et 10 sont interrompus entre Gare du Nord et…
Updated
Örebro this morning - in pictures
Updated
Swedish royals to visit the scene later today
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will visit the scene of attack in Örebro later today, the royal palace announced.
They will visit the campus, and attend a memorial service in St. Nicolai church in the city centre.
What we know after police press conference - summary
There has been no change to the death toll over night, with 11 dead, including the attacker.
Six people remain in hospitals, of which five had gunshot wounds. Two remain in intensive care.
Police believe the perpetrator shot himself.
Police are progressing their investigation into the attacker and his possible motives, but cautions against speculation or disinformation online.
No new details released on the circumstances or weapons used.
Police repeatedly refuse to disclose more details about the attacker or the weapons used, as they say the investigations is still active.
This concludes the press conference.
Updated
Attacker acted alone, police believe
County police chief Lars Wirén says more than 100 officers were involved in the response yesterday, and the investigation is supported at the national level with all resources it needs.
Police still believe the attacker acted alone, as they continue looking into his potential motives.
Two people remain in intensive care
Local public health chief Jonas Claesson says two out of five people with shot wounds remain in intensive care, but are now in stable condition.
All hospitalised are adults.
Police investigating attacker's profile and motives
Police investigation is focusing on the attacker as officers want to understand the circumstances and his possible motives, Eid Forest says.
He urges witnesses to come forward and offer photos and videos from the scene to help with the investigation.
He also repeats the call to not spread rumours and disinformation.
No change to death toll, police say
Speaking at the press conference, local police chief Roberto Eid Forest confirms there has been no change to the death toll overnight.
Police press conference starts
You can watch it (in Swedish) below, and we will bring you the news lines here as soon as we have them.
We are waiting for the press conference to start and will bring you a live stream (in Swedish) and top lines as soon as it does.
Updated
Flags at half-mast in Sweden - in pictures
Germany's SPD gains 3% in YouGov poll after migration controversy
Germany’s Social Democrats gained three percentage points in the latest YouGov poll this morning, but still remain in the third place just weeks before the general election on 23 February.
The conservative CDU/CSU came top with 29%, ahead of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland on 22%. The SPD polled at 18%, their best result in a YouGov poll in 18 months.
The apparent movement comes after a turbulent week in German politics, which focused on migration and asylum, with critics accusing the CDU/CSU of breaking the political “firewall” by passing a non-binding motion with the far-right Alternative für Deutschland.
50% of voters said they are somewhat dissatisfied with democracy in Germany, with 43% saying their further lost their trust in the system because of last week’s events.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy ready for direct talks with Russia's Putin
in Brussels
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would agree to direct talks with Vladimir Putin to end the war that will reach a grim three-year milestone later this month.
British journalist Piers Morgan asked Zelenskyy how he would feel if he sat opposite Putin at a negotiating table.
“If that is the only setup in which we can bring peace to the citizens of Ukraine and not lose people, definitely we will go for this setup,” Zelenskyy said, adding that he would also require other “participants” to be present.
In the interview with Morgan, Zelenskyy put the Ukrainian death toll at 45,100, with 390,000 injured since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. He estimated the Russian dead to be 350,000, with between 600,000 and 700,000 injured, and said Russian forces had “many” missing in action.
Greek island of Santorini empties after days of tremors
in Athens
On the second day of feeling the ground shake under her feet, Veroniki Balabonidi decided it was to time to leave Santorini. At 4.30am on Sunday she and her two young children were on a ferry bound for the port of Piraeus, surrounded by other families fleeing the Aegean isle.
“It was absolutely packed with residents like us who had had enough of the uncertainty,” she said, speaking from the home of her parents-in-law in Athens.
By Tuesday about 6,000 people – although some estimates put the exodus at nearly twice that – had followed suit, using any means available: planes, boats and even private yachts and pleasure launches.
Aegean, the country’s national carrier, announced that in the space of 48 hours it had flown 2,700 passengers from Santorini to the Greek capital after doubling flights to the island from Monday.
Greenland to hold general election on 11 March
Greenland will hold a general election on 11 March, its prime minister has announced, amid renewed interest from the US president, Donald Trump, in the Arctic territory.
The upcoming election campaign is expected to revolve around Greenland’s independence aspirations, the development of the island’s fragile economy and relations with Denmark and the US.
“We are in the midst of a serious time. A time that we have never experienced in our country. This is not the time for internal division,” the prime minister, Múte Egede, said in a social media post that did not mention Trump.
We will return to Sweden for the press conference at the top of the hour.
In the meantime, let’s catch up with the latest developments around Europe.
Police press conference at 10am (9am GMT)
We will get the next update from police at their press conference at 10am local time (9am GMT).
We will bring you all the latest here.
Flags at half-mast across Sweden
All government buildings and royal palaces in Sweden will fly flags at half-mast from 9am today to commemorate yesterday’s shooting.
The decision was announced in a series of press releases by the royal family, the government, and the speaker of the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament.
Flaggning på halv stång över hela landet efter våldsdådet i Örebro.
— Tom Samuelsson (@tomsamuelsson) February 5, 2025
Statsministern uppmanar till en bred anslutning kring denna sorgeflaggning.
➡️ https://t.co/AQHUbwwZ2y pic.twitter.com/humD67LoWt
Morning opening: Why?
Örebro and Sweden wake up this morning desperate to know the answer to a straightforward question: why?
The country wakes up this morning reeling from the deadliest mass shooting in its history, with eleven people dead after an attack at an adult education centre on Tuesday. The death toll could still change.
Region Örebro confirmed on Wednesday morning that six people remain at the hospital: five with gunshot wounds – three women, two men, all adults – and one with other minor injuries. No additional patients were admitted overnight.
The gunman was believed to be among those killed, and his motive remained unclear. He had no known connections to gangs or terrorism and had not previously been known to police. His property was raided on Tuesday night, and local media painted a picture of a loner, but no simple explanation was forthcoming as to why he committed the attack.
But that does not stop all sorts of speculation online; to the point that police felt the need to push back on some of the narratives emerging online.
“We want to be clear that based on investigative and intelligence information at present, there is no information pointing to the attacker acting on ideological motives,” they said overnight. “Do not spread unconfirmed information.”
Speaking on SVT 2’s Aktuellt last night, prime minister Ulf Kristersson admitted it was still “difficult to take the magnitude of this,” with “sadness settling all over Sweden,” and many questions left unanswered. He also called on the public to not speculate but to let police go through their investigation.
But he insisted that Swedish schools “are no less safe than they were yesterday morning,” as he urged Swedes to stay calm and return to normal lives.
We will bring you the latest from Örebro, Sweden and across Europe throughout the day. A police press conference is expected at 10am (9am GMT).
It’s Wednesday, 5 February 2025, and this is Europe live. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
Good morning.
