No Evidence of Ideological Motives Behind Mass Shooting: Swedish Police

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the attack was the ‘worst mass shooting in Swedish history.’

Emergency services personnel work at the scene of a shooting at Campus Risbergska school in Orebro, Sweden, on Feb. 4, 2025. Pontus Lundahl/TT News Agency via AP

Swedish police said there is no evidence of “ideological motives” behind a mass shooting at an adult education center.

Police in Sweden stated on Feb. 4 that about 10 people had been killed in an attack at an adult education center in Orebro, a city of more than 100,000 people in central Sweden. The suspect is believed to have been found dead, bringing the total number of fatalities to 11.

“We want to be clear that based on investigative and intelligence information at present, there is no information pointing to the culprit acting on ideological motives,” Swedish police said in an online statement.

Police have stated that the motive for the crime was not immediately known.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the attack as the “worst mass shooting in Swedish history.”

Suspected Shooter Found Dead

In a press conference on the morning of Feb. 5 covered by national public television broadcaster SVT, the local police chief, Roberto Eid Forest, said the suspected gunman was found dead when police entered the adult school campus.

“When police arrived at the scene, gunfire was heard. The understanding is that they were initially fired upon. During the subsequent search of the premises, the suspected shooter was found deceased,” Forest said.

He said police could not confirm reports circulating that the suspect had committed suicide.

Forest said he had no new details regarding deaths but that the number still stands at 11.

He said not all of the deceased have been fully identified, but that intensive work is still ongoing.

6 Patients

At the press conference, Jonas Claesson, Orebro hospital director, gave updates for six patients who were admitted to the hospital.

He said that there were four women and two men, all older than 18 years old.

Claesson said five people initially had life-threatening gunshot wounds but that all have had surgery and that their conditions are now described as stable. The sixth person has minor injuries.

Police said in a previous statement that authorities did not see any general threat against schools or preschools in the country, nor against adult education schools, including Swedish classes for immigrants.

“We also at present don’t see any danger to the public, even if we understand that the incident raises concerns and many questions,” police stated.

In Sweden, there is an unwritten rule that newspapers normally don’t name criminals until they are convicted.

Campus Risbergska

The shooting took place in a campus area where several schools, for both children and adults, are located.

The shooting site, a school called Campus Risbergska, serves students older than the age of 20, according to its website.

Primary and upper secondary school courses are offered, as well as Swedish classes for immigrants, vocational training, and programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

A video from the scene showed a large police presence and emergency vehicles. Students sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the shooting.

Police stated that no officers were shot.

Authorities said on Feb. 5 that six police officers had to go to the hospital after inhaling smoke inside the school.

“They have been allowed to leave the health care system and are doing well,” authorities said.

The country has been plagued by gang violence, which has dramatically escalated over the past two decades. In 2023, it recorded the highest level of fatal gun violence per capita in Europe.

More than 30 bomb blasts have hit Stockholm since the start of the year.

However, fatal attacks at schools are rare.

Reuters and Guy Birchall contributed to this report.