Grief and disbelief following sword attack in Sweden

17-year-old student dead — Sweden in shock over sword attack

The attack at a school has shocked Sweden. An 18-year-old killed a female student and injured several others with a sword yesterday. The perpetrator is reported to have glorified previous school massacres.

The morning after, the campus of Brinellskolan in the Swedish town of Fagersta remains cordoned off. Police vehicles are visible. On a patch of grass, candles have been burning since the evening — and more keep appearing.

During the night, two 16-year-old students, Elsa and Lena, came to the site. In an interview with Swedish television, they expressed their disbelief. "It's terrible that something like this is happening in Fagersta. And the worst part is: we know the people involved."

Since this morning it has been confirmed that the victim was a 17-year-old female student. Her parents confirmed this to a local newspaper.

"The worst part is: we know the people." Grief following the sword attack in Fagersta.

"It's so sad"

The school year had only just begun. Everyone knows everyone here, Lena said in her interview with the Swedish reporter.

The first-year upper secondary students had just completed a team-building course, Lena explained. "Some of us wanted to go back into the school to collect something — and then someone lost their life here. It's so sad."

Perpetrator said to have glorified massacres

At Friday evening's press conference, police revealed relatively little about the perpetrator. He had entered the school armed with a sword in the early afternoon. In addition to the 17-year-old who died, two students were seriously injured and one sustained minor injuries.

Police arrested the perpetrator. It is known that he is an 18-year-old who apparently once attended the school himself. According to Swedish media reports, he is said to have posted a video of a sword on his TikTok account shortly before the attack. The account has since been taken down.

He is also reported to have glorified various school massacres on his account. It is also known that the perpetrator had previously been convicted as a juvenile for a violent attack on a student.

Series of violent attacks at Swedish schools

Thursday's attack is part of a series of serious violent incidents at Swedish schools. Just last February, eleven students were killed and fifteen injured in a rampage in Örebro.

Justice Minister Gunnar Stremmer acknowledged in a radio interview that more must be done. "We have taken a great deal of action since the terrible attack in Örebro," said Stremmer. But clearly more needs to be done — "even if that always has to be weighed against restrictions on other interests." Schools must above all be a safe place for all students.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his dismay over the attack and cancelled a campaign appearance. King Carl XVI Gustaf made similar remarks, saying he understood that students, parents and teachers were worried — not only in Fagersta, but across the entire country. His thoughts were with the victims and their families.

Elections in three weeks

The attack in the small central Swedish town is also casting a shadow over the country's election campaign. In three weeks, on 13 September, a new parliament will be elected. Regional and municipal elections will take place at the same time.