The Sweden shooter who massacred 10 people at a school campus in Örebro has been named as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson by Swedish media.
Andersson changed into green military clothing in a school toilet before carrying out the shooting at Risbergska School before turning the gun on himself.
Relatives described Andersson as an unemployed recluse, who lived a lonely life and suffered with mental problems, Aftonbladet reported.
Andersson had received a license for four hunting rifles, and documents from the Swedish National Service Agency show he had been repeatedly told he was not eligible for military service after he came of age, it added.
A police source also confirmed the name to Reuters news agency.
It comes after the King and Queen of Sweden paid a solemn visit to the site of Sweden’s worst ever in Örebro.
King Carl XVI Gustaf stood solemnly by Queen Silvia’s side as she laid bright white flowers at a makeshift memorial near the site
"A grieving process is hard to do alone," King Carl told reporters at the scene. "I think all of Sweden feels it has experienced this traumatic event.”
Key Points
- Swedish media names Rickard Andersson as suspected shooter
- King and Queen visit site of shooting in Örebro
- Everything we know so far about the Sweden school shooting
- Police believe suspect shot himself - Wednesday press conference key points
- Swedish PM condemns worst shooting in country's history
Swedish media names Rickard Andersson as suspected shooter
16:35 , Alex CroftSwedish outlet Aftonbladet has named 35-year-old Rickard Andersson as the suspect behind the massacre of 10 people in an Örebro school.
He lived a lonely life and suffered with mental problems, the outlet reported.
Andersson had received a license for four hunting rifles, and documents from the Swedish National Service Agency show he had been repeatedly told he was not eligible for military service after he came of age, it added.
His relatives was also described by relatives as a “loner” who “doesn't seem to like people”.
Andersson changed into a green military outfit in the school toilets, and was warmed with three guns and a knife as he carried out the horrific mass killing.
Police are yet to officially name the suspect, but a police source also named him as Andersson to Reuters news agency.
Watch: Sweden shooting witness recalls chaotic, bloody aftermath of violence
16:19 , Alex CroftIn pictures: Royals and politicians pay respects at memorial service
15:53 , Alex Croft
Swedish Red Cross steps in with psychosocial support for Örebro residents
15:34 , Alex CroftThe Swedish Red Cross will provide psychosocial report to those affected in Örebro, the organisation said.
"This is distressing for everyone involved,” secretary general Ulrika Modéer said. “The incident impacts not only those directly affected and their families but also the wider community, including people evacuated and parents concerned for their children's safety.”
Red Cross staff will be stationed in three locations around the city to support anyone who needs it.
“Experiencing anxiety and worry is a natural response. The most important thing now is to show each other care and compassion,” Ms Modéer added.
Royals and prime minister join memorial service
15:14 , Alex CroftThe King and Queen of Sweden were joined by prime minister Ulf Kristersson at a memorial service for those killed in the Örebro shooting.
Senior politicians from parties in the Riksdag - Sweden’s parliament - also joined the service in St. Nicolai Church.
A minute’s silence was followed by singing and joint prayer, before candles were lit, Expressen reported.
"The sun is shining outside, but in our hearts it is dark," the priest who is conducting the service said.
Watch: Sombre scenes as Swedish royals and Prime Minister visit school shooting scene
14:46 , Alex CroftÖresund Bridge to light up in memory of the dead
14:32 , Alex CroftThe Öresund Bridge, the 7.8 kilometre cable-bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden, will light up tonight in memory of those killed in the school massacre.
“Special mourning lights” will be adorn the bridge to commemorate the dead, the bridge announced.
"Two pylons are extinguished while two pylons are illuminated with the colors of the Swedish flag, which is intended to symbolize a form of half-mast flag flying," it added.
The lighting will begin at dusk on Wednesday and turn off at sunrise on Thursday.
Relatives of suspected gunman say 35-year-old was a 'loner' - report
14:16 , Alex CroftThe man suspected to be behind Sweden’s worst ever mass shooting was a “loner”, relatives have told Swedish media.
Police are yet to confirm the identity of the dead shooter, who they believe turned the gun on himself on Tuesday afternoon.
“We haven't had much contact with him in recent years. As a child he was different but lively. He did well in school. In recent years he has had a hard time,” the relative told Aftonbladet.
He has not had much contact with his immediate family in recent years, the relative added.
“He sometimes comes along when his siblings come home and it's Christmas Eve or something else to celebrate. His mom and dad are out traveling a lot, so he usually takes care of their dog. He spends a lot of time at their house,” they added.
Another relative painted a similar picture: “He keeps to himself a lot. He's a loner.”
Watch: Swedish King says Sweden is "standing behind" families of school shooting victims
14:07 , Alex Croft'Grieving is hard to do alone', says King Carl
14:03 , Alex CroftAfter laying perfect white flowers at the makeshift memorial commemorating those slain in a depraved mass shooting, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf issued a call for national unity.
"A grieving process is hard to do alone," he told reporters. "I think all of Sweden feels it has experienced this traumatic event.
“We have come here to show our sympathy and we are thinking of the deceased, but also of course their families, loved ones. The relatives are not alone, we are with them,” he added.
In pictures: King, Queen and prime minister lay flowers at memorial
13:49 , Alex Croft
'What happened to beautiful Sweden?' asks Queen Sylvia
13:40 , Alex CroftSpeaking to the media during their visit to the Campus Risbergska, where 11 people died yesterday, Queen Sylvia expressed her devastation.
“Of course, we are thinking of family members and everyone who has died now and I wonder... what happened to the beautiful Sweden?” she said to reporters, according to Expressen.
“I have a great wish for all the Swedish people to help and build it up again. Strengthen Sweden's good name and everything that means to be Swedish.
“That's what I wish now. A lot has happened lately and it is my great wish and the King's that we all together build up the fine Sweden that has been.”
Kins wait outside hospital searching for friends among casualties
13:25 , Alex CroftFamily members of potential victims waited outside the Orebro University Hospital overnight.
Ali Elmokad was looking for his relative, unsure whether he was among the injured or the dead.
"We've been trying to get hold of him all day, we haven't been successful," he said, adding that he had a friend who also attended the school.
"What she saw was so terrible. She only saw people lying on the floor, injured and blood everywhere."
Swedish King and Queen visit site of shooting in Örebro
13:14 , Alex CroftThe King and Queen of Sweden have arrived in Örebro, to visit the site of Tuesday’s devastating shooting.
Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife, Queen Silvia, will later attend a memorial service in St. Nicolai Church in the centre of the city.
Watch live: Swedish royals and prime minster visit school shooting scene
13:10 , Alex CroftWave of shootings and bombings in Sweden in recent years
12:56 , Alex RossSweden has been struggling with a wave of shootings and bombings caused by an endemic gang crime problem that has seen the country of 10 million people record by far the highest per capita rate of gun violence in the EU in recent years.
However, fatal attacks at schools are rare.
Ten people were killed in seven incidents of deadly violence at schools between 2010 and 2022, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.
Sweden has a high level of gun ownership by European standards, mainly linked to hunting, though it is much lower than in the United States, while the gang crime wave has highlighted the high incidence of illegal weapons.
In one of the highest-profile crimes of the past decade, a 21-year-old masked assailant driven by racist motives killed a teaching assistant and a boy and wounded two others in 2015.
In 2017, a man driving a truck mowed down shoppers on a busy street in central Stockholm before crashing into a department store. Five people died in that attack.
Black armbands and minute's silence to be held Swedish football match
12:41 , Alex CroftFootball teams Degerfors IF and Orebro Syrianska will wear black armbands at a friendly match on Wednesday evening.
The teams will also hold a minute’s silence before the match to “honour the victims of the terrible attack in Örebro”, Degerfors IF announced.
“Our thoughts are with those affected and their families,” said the club, which plays in the highest tier of Swedish football.
Pictured: Suspect's apartment stormed by police after shooting
12:26 , Alex Croft
Who was the Sweden school shooting suspect who killed 10 people?
12:10 , Alex CroftThe gunman was among the 11 people killed in the worst shooting in the history of Sweden at an adult education centre west of Stockholm.
On Tuesday, police received reports of a shooting in Orebro, a city 200km (124 miles) west of Stockholm, at 12.33pm local time and engaged in an exchange of bullets with the suspect.
Terrified students scrambled for cover under the desk and some even barricaded themselves in classrooms. The suspected perpetrator was later found with a gunshot wound, police said.
What do we know about the suspect behind the Sweden school shooting?
Who was the Sweden school shooting suspect who killed 10 people?
Örebro Mosque opens for extra hours to support community
11:52 , Alex CroftÖrebro Mosque opened for extra hours on Tuesday and Wednesday to support the the local community, Expressen reported.
“We open for the grieving and the worried. They have big questions that we can't answer, but we can be there. Right now, all we can do is grieve, that's all we can do at the moment,” the mosque’s chairman Yusuf Abdow told the Swedish outlet.
“People in the mosque, like all of Örebro, feel that it must not happen. That it is a nightmare. It is not just relatives, everyone is shaken.”
Prime minister to visit Örebro on Wednesday
11:36 , Alex CroftSwedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson and minister of justice Gunnar Strömmer will visit Örebro on Wednesday, according to Expressen.
It comes after the royal court confirmed that King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife, Queen Silvia, will also visit the central Swedish city.
The royals will visit the area where the shooting took place, before attending a memorial service in St. Nicolai Church in the centre of the city.
Sweden school shooting: Everything we know about the killing of 11 people at an adult education centre
11:19 , Alex CroftEleven people are dead after a rampaging gunman opened fire at an adult education centre in central Sweden, in what has been dubbed the country’s worst ever mass shooting.
Armed police were scrambled to Risbergska School, in Örebro, at lunchtime on Tuesday, as terrified students hid under their desks and barricaded themselves in classrooms.
Students told local media outlets how they heard gun shots and screams before armed police stormed the buildings and they were able to escape.
In a statement issued shortly before midnight, police said 11 people had died in the attack, including the suspect. Police believe the suspect shot himself, they added in a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Here is everything we know so far about the shooting:
In pictures: Heartbreak in Örebro on Wednesday
11:04 , Alex Croft
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen - shooting was 'truly horrifying'
10:50 , Alex CroftWhat happened today in Örebro is truly horrifying.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 4, 2025
Such violence and terror have no place in our societies—least of all in schools.
In this dark hour, we stand with the people of Sweden.
Our thoughts are with the victims, and we wish them strength and a swift recovery. https://t.co/Z8XaHDfZBy
ICYMI: Ukraine president Zelensky issues statement
10:34 , Alex CroftAmong the world leaders who have responded to Tuesday’s attack is Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.
On social media he wrote: “Condolences to Ulf Kristersson and all Swedes on the tragic shooting at Risbergska School in Örebro that claimed so many innocent lives.
“Our hearts go out to the victims’ families and loved ones. On this painful day, we reunite in mourning with friendly Sweden and share the pain of the Swedish people.”
Watch: Sweden shooting witness recalls chaotic, bloody aftermath of violence
10:21 , Alex CroftKey points from the press conference
09:55 , Alex CroftHere are all the key points from the Wednesday morning press conference held by district police chief Roberto Eid Forest.
- Police believe the suspected perpetrator shot himself, although cannot confirm this. He was already dead when police found him, but authorities will not yet confirm his identity.
- Police believe the suspect acted alone in the shooting. They are calling for any witnesses and footage from the scene.
- The victims have not all been identified.
- Six people remain in hospital. Five of these six had been shot and two are in intensive care.
- Six officers were treated for smoke inhalation. Police are investigating the cause of the smoke, including whether arson was involved.
Much evidence to suggest perpetrator shot himself - police
09:48 , Alex CroftThere is much evidence to suggest that the perpetrator shot himself, police district chief Roberto Eid Forest said.
But police cannot confirm this is the case, he added.
The suspected perpetrator was already dead when police found him on the scene.
Authorities will also not confirm whether he had one or more weapons.
All victims have not yet been identified, police say
09:45 , Alex CroftThe victims of yesterday’s shooting have not all been identified, police district chief Roberto Eid Forest told the press conference.
Police remain at the school and have cordoned off a very large crime scene, he added. Cameras are being checked and interviews conducted as police continue their investigations.
Police officers will be given access to all of Sweden’s capabilities and resources, he added.
Six officers treated for smoke inhalation, police say
09:41 , Alex CroftSix police officers were treated for smoke inhalation following the shooting.
Authorities are investigating whether arson was involved but will not yet confirm where the smoke came from.
The fire alarm was triggered, and police believe there was no regular fire.
Örebro hospitals no longer in emergency mode
09:36 , Alex CroftHospitals in Örebro are no longer in emergency mode, the region’s health director Jonas Classon said in the press conference.
Mr Classon confirmed information released this morning that six adults were hospitalised in the Örebro University Hospital, five of whom were shot.
Investigation into extra perpetrators continues
09:33 , Alex CroftThe suspected perpetrator is one of the dead people, police again confirmed.
They are continuing to investigate whether more people are involved, and are appealing for witnesses and footage at the scene.
King and Queen to visit Örebro
09:31 , Alex CroftThe King and Queen of Sweden will visit Örebro today, the royal court announced according to Swedish media.
Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife, Queen Silvia, will visit the area where the shooting took place, before attending a memorial service in St. Nicolai Church in the centre of the city.
Press conference beginning now
09:18 , Alex CroftAfter a small delay, police are now starting their press conference on yesterday’s shooting.
Stay here for the latest.
Watch: Police swarm Swedish school after 11 killed in Örebro shooting
09:15 , Holly Patrick
Police swarm Swedish school after 11 killed in Örebro shooting
Swedish government building flies flag at half mast
08:57 , Alex CroftThe Swedish government building, Rosenbad, is flying its flag at half mast today.
Prime minister Ulf Kristersson described the lethal attack as the “worst school shooting in Sweden’s history” on Tuesday.
“Today we know that many, many people are in the depths of despair. Offer them all the support you can,” he added. “Many children are frightened, so we must comfort them. We all have a role to play in overcoming this deep grief.”
Police to hold press conference soon
08:47 , Alex CroftSwedish police are due to hold a press conference at 10am local time (9am GMT).
We’ll bring you all the key lines here.
In pictures: Swedish police lock down the crime scene
09:26 , Alex Croft
Five remain in ‘serious’ condition in hospital
08:24 , Alex CroftFive people remain in “serious” conditions in hospital following the Risbergska School shooting, Örebro officials said on Wednesday morning.
Three women and two men, all over 18 years old, were operated on after being admitted with gunshot wounds. All are in a stable but serious condition in the Örebro University Hospital.
They were all initially considered to have life-threatening injuries.
Another adult woman is being treated for minor injuries and is in a stable condition. No added patients were admitted overnight.
Wave of shootings and bombings in Sweden in recent years
08:10 , Alex RossSweden has been struggling with a wave of shootings and bombings caused by an endemic gang crime problem that has seen the country of 10 million people record by far the highest per capita rate of gun violence in the EU in recent years.
However, fatal attacks at schools are rare.
Ten people were killed in seven incidents of deadly violence at schools between 2010 and 2022, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.
Sweden has a high level of gun ownership by European standards, mainly linked to hunting, though it is much lower than in the United States, while the gang crime wave has highlighted the high incidence of illegal weapons.
In one of the highest-profile crimes of the past decade, a 21-year-old masked assailant driven by racist motives killed a teaching assistant and a boy and wounded two others in 2015.
In 2017, a man driving a truck mowed down shoppers on a busy street in central Stockholm before crashing into a department store. Five people died in that attack.
Everything we know about the killing of 11 people at an adult education centre
07:30 , Namita SinghPolice have said 11 people have been killed after a gunman opened fire at an adult education centre in Örebro, Sweden.
Armed police were scrambled to Risbergska School at lunchtime on Tuesday as terrified students hid under their desks and barricaded themselves in classrooms.
Students told local media outlets how they heard gun shots and screams before armed police stormed the buildings and they were able to escape.
In a statement issued shortly before midnight, police said 11 people had died in the attack, including the suspect.
Here is everything we know about the Orebro school shooting:
Sweden's worst mass shooting leaves at least 11 dead
07:29 , Namita SinghSweden's worst mass shooting left at least 11 people dead, including the gunman, at an adult education center west of Stockholm as officials warned the death toll could rise.
The gunman's motive, as well as the number of wounded, had not been determined by early Wednesday as Sweden — where gun violence at schools is very rare — reeled from an attack with such bloodshed that police early on said it was difficult to count the number of dead among the carnage.
The school, called Campus Risbergska, offers primary and secondary educational classes for adults age 20 and older, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. It is on the outskirts of Orebro, which is about 200km west of Stockholm.
Report:
Sweden's worst mass shooting leaves at least 11 dead at an adult education center
Prime minister mourns shooting victims as he urges public to ‘not speculate’
07:15 , Namita SinghPrime minister Ulf Kristersson gave a news conference hours after the tragedy, which happened on the outskirts of Orebro.
"Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people," Mr Kristersson told reporters in Stockholm.
"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.
'We heard people screaming' - person inside school tells of horror of attack
07:00 , Alex RossAmong those inside Risbergska School when the attack started was Andreas Sundling.
The 28-year-old told Sky News last night how he was in a classroom when he heard loud bangs outside.
“Then we heard people screaming,” he said.
"Then the people in my class realised that something is wrong. We closed all the doors to the classroom and we locked the doors and I barricaded the doors with tables and chairs."
As he was under the table, he said his only thought was his family, including his young daughter, as he waited for the incident to be over.
Watch live: Swedish police on scene of deadly shooting
06:54 , Namita Singh
Watch live: Swedish police on scene of deadly shooting at Örebro school
‘We heard loud screams’
06:53 , Namita SinghThe shooting erupted after many students had gone home following a national exam.
Police vehicles and ambulances, lights flashing, blanketed the parking lots and streets around the school as a helicopter buzzed overhead.
Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots.
Students sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the shooting, which began at around 12.30pm local time.
Andreas Sundling, 28, was among those forced to barricade themselves inside the school.
"We heard three bangs and loud screams," he told Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom.
Police raid suspect’s home
06:37 , Namita SinghPolice raided the suspect's home after yesterday’s shooting, but it wasn't immediately clear what they found.
Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police, said there were no warning signs before the attack. Authorities were working to identify the deceased.
Police believe the perpetrator acted alone, and he wasn't previously known to police, officials said.
Authorities said that there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point, but police didn't provide a motive.
"Of course, we all want to understand why this happened, what occurred, and what motives the perpetrator may have had," prime minister Ulf Kristersson Kristersson said. "We will have to wait for those answers — in due time, the picture will become clearer."
Shooting sends shock waves through Europe
06:24 , Namita SinghThe shooting at the education centre in Sweden sent shock waves through Europe, with officials in Brussels expressing their outrage at the carnage.
"What happened today in Orebro is truly horrifying," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media.
"Such violence and terror have no place in our societies — least of all in schools. In this dark hour, we stand with the people of Sweden."
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen expressed support to neighboring Sweden, calling Tuesday's shooting "a terrible situation".
"I am so sad and all my thoughts are with the victims and their families and with the entire Swedish community and society," she said after a meeting with British prime minister Keir Starmer in London. "It's a terrible situation. And of course, our neighboring countries have all of our support."
'Police see no danger now' - Sweden's prime minister
06:00 , Alex RossEarlier at a press conference following the attack at the school in Orebro, Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson was asked about the safety of children and young people.
The suspect in the shooting is believed to be among those dead, said police as officers continued to investigate the crime on Tuesday night.
Mr Kristersson said: “The police's message is clear. It says that they see no danger now. Trust adults and trust teachers. That way I think they will be safe. But it is understandable that it arouses fear.”
Who are the victims and what do we know about the school?
05:44 , Namita SinghCampus Risbergska serves students above the age of 20, offering primary and upper secondary courses along with Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities, according to the website.
Many students in Sweden's adult school system are immigrants seeking to improve basic education and gain degrees to help them find jobs in the Nordic country while also learning Swedish.
Police did not disclose any information about the identity of the victims.
Incorrect narratives about suspect circulated on social media, say police
05:32 , Namita Singh"Incorrect narratives" were being spread on social media about the shooting, said police chief Roberto Eid Forest, in a late night address, as he clarified that motives of the gunman were under investigation.
"According to investigation data and intelligence data, there is currently no information that indicates that the perpetrator acted based on ideological motives," the statement said.
Earlier the police said, that they believe the gunman acted alone, as they ruled out terrorism as a motive.
Wave of shootings and bombings in Sweden in recent years
05:00 , Alex RossSweden has been struggling with a wave of shootings and bombings caused by an endemic gang crime problem that has seen the country of 10 million people record by far the highest per capita rate of gun violence in the EU in recent years.
However, fatal attacks at schools are rare.
Ten people were killed in seven incidents of deadly violence at schools between 2010 and 2022, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.
Sweden has a high level of gun ownership by European standards, mainly linked to hunting, though it is much lower than in the United States, while the gang crime wave has highlighted the high incidence of illegal weapons.
In one of the highest-profile crimes of the past decade, a 21-year-old masked assailant driven by racist motives killed a teaching assistant and a boy and wounded two others in 2015.
In 2017, a man driving a truck mowed down shoppers on a busy street in central Stockholm before crashing into a department store. Five people died in that attack.
