About 10 killed in shooting at adult education center in Sweden

OREBRO, Sweden — Swedish police said about 10 people, including the gunman, were killed during a shooting Tuesday at an adult education center. But a final death toll and a conclusive number of wounded hadn’t been determined.

The damage at the crime scene was so extensive that investigators were unable to be more definitive, said Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police. The shooting occurred on the outskirts of the city of Orebro, about 125 miles west of Stockholm.

Police said that the death toll could rise. Eid Forest told reporters that the gunman was among those killed. Police believe the perpetrator acted alone and wasn’t previously known to police, officials said.

The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students 20 and older, 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.

“Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a news conference in Stockholm. “This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either.”

Authorities said that there were no suspected connections to terrorism at this point, but police didn’t provide a motive.

Gun violence at schools is very rare in Sweden. But there have been several incidents in recent years in which people were wounded or killed with other weapons, such as knives or axes.

The shooting sent shock waves through Europe, with officials in Brussels expressing their outrage.

“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.”

The shooting erupted around 12:30 p.m. local time after many students had gone home following a national exam. Teacher Lena Warenmark told SVT News that there were unusually few students on the campus Tuesday afternoon after the exam. She also told the broadcaster that she heard probably 10 gunshots. Students sheltered in nearby buildings.

Dazio writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.