TRANSCRIPT
As Sweden's worst mass shooting unfolds, those who can, run for their lives.
But for those trapped inside this classroom, it's a terrifying wait.
As emergency alarms sound, all they can do is shelter in place, underneath desks and behind chairs, praying in silence that the shooter doesn't enter their classroom.
By the end of the ordeal, at least ten people are dead, among them the shooter.
The shooting occurred at the Risbergska school located in Örebro, 200 kilometres west of Stockholm.
It is a school for adults who did not complete their formal education or failed to get the marks to continue to higher education, but is also located on a campus that houses several schools for children.
Police have held a press conference following the shooting.
“Welcome to a situation update. My name is Roberto Eid Forest, and I am the Chief of Local Police in Örebro. This update is related to today's tragic events at Campus Risbergska Adult Education Center. We now know that about ten people have lost their lives there today. We cannot provide more specifics at this time, the reason for this is the number of injured.”
Chief Forest says police believe the gunman had acted alone, and adds that police do not currently suspect terrorism as a motive, though he cautioned that much remained unknown
“What we are doing right now involves several parts. Part of this involves identifying the deceased, as well as following up on the condition of the injured. Additionally, there is an extensive investigative effort underway. We still believe that we have the primary perpetrator, although we are not ruling out connections to others.”
Marwa is a student at Campus Risbergska.
She barely escaped being shot.
“A guy next to me was shot in the shoulder. He was bleeding a lot. When I looked behind me I saw three people on the floor bleeding. Everyone was shocked. They said, "Go out! Get out!" I and my friend tried to save the life of this person. People were very shocked. The police were not on site and neither was the ambulance. So we had to help. I took my friend's shawl and tied it tightly around his shoulder so that he wouldn't bleed so much.”
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson spoke of 'darkness falling over Sweden' after the country's worst mass shooting.
“It is difficult to take in the magnitude of what has happened today, the darkness that is now falling over Sweden tonight. It is with bottomless sadness that we have received the news from the police that about ten people have been killed and several have been injured in a school shooting in Örebro. What simply cannot happen has now also happened in Sweden.”
Mr Kristersson says the motive behind the shooting has yet to be determined.
“Today we have seen a brutal deadly violence against completely innocent people. This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. There are still a lot of answers missing and I can't give them the answers either. But there will come a time when we will learn what has happened, how it could happen and what motives may have been behind it.”
Anna Lena Evehall is a local priest at the Haga Church.
She offered support and care for relatives and community members waiting for news on loved ones caught up in the shooting.
“Of course, people are very upset, what has happened here, people who live here and go to school at Risbergska. So, we try to help them to communicate with relatives and give them support when they are waiting for news about their relatives.”
Ali El Mokdad's brother in-law has been missing since the shooting took place.
He is at the local hospital's Accident and Emergency department trying to find out if his relative is among the dead or injured.
“I am a relative of her father, who is my sister's husband. We've been trying to get hold of him all day, we haven't been successful. We've called his phone. I believe he goes to school there and reads there. We don't have more information and that is why we're here at the hospital, trying to get information about him.”
Police Chief Forest, believes the incident is now over as investigations begin.
“Right now, we feel more confident that no further attacks will take place, and the schools that were affected have been evacuated. As I see it, there is no ongoing danger, even though both we and the municipality, of course, have a significant amount of work ahead to discuss what has happened and how to ensure safety.”
