Syrians and Bosnian among victims of gunman’s attack

Syrians and Bosnian among victims of gunman’s attack

Ten victims, including Syrians and a Bosnian, were among those killed by a gunman in the deadliest shooting in Swedish history, which took place at a school in Orebro on Tuesday. Initial details about the victims’ nationalities were provided by two embassies, as police only confirmed that the victims were of various nationalities without releasing further specifics.

The suspected shooter, identified locally as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, was found dead at the scene with three firearms nearby. The regional police chief described the chaotic and harrowing scene officers encountered upon entering the school, calling it an “inferno” filled with “dead people, screams, and smoke.”

This tragic incident has shocked the nation, marking a dark moment in Sweden’s history and raising urgent questions about public safety and gun violence. Authorities continue to investigate the motives behind the attack and the circumstances surrounding the shooter’s actions.

Lars Wiren described a scene of chaos at Risbergska School, where people were seen running in and out of the sprawling 17,000-square-meter complex during the shooting. Anna Bergqvist, leading the police investigation, informed the BBC that authorities could only confirm the victims were of various nationalities and ages, with no further details released at the time.

The Bosnian embassy revealed that one Bosnian national was killed and another injured in the attack. Ambassador Bojan Sosic paid his respects by laying flowers outside the school in Orebro on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Syrian embassy did not specify the number of Syrians affected but expressed its “sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, including dear Syrian citizens, and to the friendly Swedish people.”

It was later confirmed that Salim Iskef, a 29-year-old Orthodox Christian who had fled the war in Syria in 2015, was among the 10 victims. The Santa Maria Church in Orebro announced that his life had tragically ended in the shooting, adding a deeply personal dimension to the devastating event. The incident has left the community in mourning and raised further questions about the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Jacob Kasselia, the priest at Orebro’s Syrian Orthodox church, shared with the BBC that Salim Iskef was a kind and thoughtful young man who had fled Aleppo in 2015 and was planning to marry this summer. According to Swedish reports, he had recently become a Swedish citizen. The priest revealed that Mr. Iskef’s fiancée had been deeply traumatized by his murder, describing her as going through an “extremely difficult and dark experience.”

Mr. Iskef’s aunt told the Arabic-language website *Alkompis* that he had made a video call to his mother after being shot, urging her to take care of his fiancée. Meanwhile, the Bosnian embassy stated that while it had received information from Orebro’s Bosnian community, it was waiting for official confirmation from the police before releasing details.

There has been growing frustration in Orebro over the slow pace at which police have been sharing information about the investigation. Ambassador Bojan Sosic expressed his concerns to the BBC, stating, “I find it odd, to say the least, that the police choose to withhold information that pertains to foreign citizens from their respective embassies.” He also praised the Bosnian community as one of the most well-integrated groups in Sweden.

The tragedy has left the community reeling, with many seeking answers and closure as the investigation continues.

Police in Orebro say the alarm was raised at 12:33 (11:33 GMT) on Tuesday and after about five minutes the first patrols had reached the school, which sits on a large education campus about 200km (124km) west of Stockholm.

Police chief Lars Wiren said 130 police officers had eventually reached the school and found an “inferno”.

He told the BBC that there was no evidence bombs had been detonated, but said there was thick smoke that could have come from the suspect setting fires or smoke grenades.

He said they believed the suspect had fired at police but that officers did not fire back. The gunman was found dead at the scene over an hour later.

Police investigator Anna Bergqvist said that the suspect had killed himself.

She confirmed that three guns were found at the scene next to the gunman, of a total of four known to be legally registered to the suspect.

However, she refused to comment on the types of guns or ammunition used.

Police have remained tight-lipped about the suspect and the possible motive behind the attack. Anna Bergqvist, leading the investigation, explained that the delay in identifying the suspect was due to the time needed to match DNA samples. While Swedish police typically avoid naming suspects before formal charges are filed, Ms. Bergqvist indicated that an exception would likely be made in this case, with the suspect’s name expected to be released in the coming days.

Risbergska School, where the shooting occurred, offers adult education for individuals over 20 who did not complete primary or secondary school, as well as Swedish language classes for immigrants. The attack has raised concerns among young residents in Orebro about a potential racial element, particularly after the Syrian embassy confirmed that immigrants were among the victims.

Adding to these concerns, Sweden’s TV4 channel aired a video recorded during the attack from a school toilet, in which the words “away from Europe!” can be heard. It remains unclear who shouted the phrase, and police have been cautious not to speculate on a motive. The incident has sparked widespread unease and calls for clarity as the investigation unfolds.

However, Anna Bergqvist seemed to walk back the initial statement from authorities on Tuesday, which had suggested the attack was not ideologically motivated. “Why they said that, I cannot comment,” she stated. “We are exploring various motives and will announce them once we have clarity.”

Rickard Andersson, the suspected gunman, has been described locally as a recluse. A report by the Swedish website *Aftonbladet* suggested that his attack may have been directed at local social services. According to a source cited by the site, Andersson had clashed with a social worker after losing his welfare benefits for failing to meet job-seeking requirements.

On Tuesday, police had stated that the suspect had no prior criminal record, no known ties to gangs, and that they did not believe the attack was terrorism-related. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together a clearer picture of the motive behind this tragic event.