Five people have been shot at a school in Sweden as authorities warned the danger was not over while armed officers rushed to the scene.
Armed police descended on the Risbergska School, an adult educational institute in the city of Örebro some 200 km (125 miles) west of Stockholm on Tuesday.
"Five persons are confirmed shot," police said in a statement. "This is currently seen as attempted murder, arson and aggravated weapons offence."
The injuries of the five people shot are currently unknown. No police officers were injured in the incident, Swedish police confirmed.
Students are being sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the violence
The local hospital is stepping up its emergency operations in anticipation of having to deal with those affected by the attack, Swedish media has reported.
“Patients who have been waiting for the emergency room and who do not have life-threatening injuries are now referred to nearby health centres,” a spokesperson for the hospital said.
Key Points
- Five people shot in Sweden school attack
- Four people in hospital after shooting
- Pictured: Police search Swedish school after shooting
- Suspect among the injured, police confirm
Locals describe 'really bad' shooting
14:48
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Alex Croft
Knut Säborg, who owns Knut Saeborg Dance Studio told the Independent: “It’s 100 yards from our dance studio, so its really, really bad. So we have to close the dance studio tonight.
“There are loads of national guard, they sealed off a very big area. Helicopters and everything, you know.
“They don’t want people to come there because they don’t know if they’ve hidden any explosives or anything, so it’s only police that’s allowed in the area.
“We have sent an email to all the parents and all the pupils that our dance studio is closed tonight, because we are only 100 yards from it, we are just a few yards from where it actually happened.”
Press conference ongoing
14:46
Swedish police are currently holding a press conference giving updates on the attack.
Örebro police chief Roberto Eid Forest said the perpetrator was found with a gunshot wound.
Suspect among the injured, police confirm
14:40
,
Alexander Butler
A number of injured people have been found with gunshot wounds and one of these people is someone we suspect may be the perpetrator, says Roberto Eid Forest, police district chief in Örebro.
Watch: Five shot at adult education centre in Sweden as minister makes statement
14:22
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Alexander Butler
What school was attacked?
14:12
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Alexander Butler
The attack took place at Risbergska School, an education campus serving a wide range of students, Swedish media reported.
The school’s website says it mostly deals with adult education and works with people over the age of 20, offering various levels of training and language courses for immigrants to Sweden.
Air ambulance arriving at the scene, say local authorities
14:06
,
Tom Watling
An air ambulance is on its way to the scene, local officials have reported.
Meanwhile, a police helicopter, pictured below, was later seen arriving in the area.
Mapped: School shooting leaves five wounded in Sweden
13:56
,
Tom Watling
We have some more details on the school
13:51
,
Tom Watling
Below, we have some details on the school in which five people have been shot following an attack.
The school, called Campus Risbergska, serves students who are over age 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.
The city of Örebro, in which the school is located, has a population of around 155,000 people.
Several schools in the region lock students in buildings
13:49
,
Tom Watling
Several schools in the Örebro area have locked their students inside on the advice of the police, Swedish media is reporting.
Former Sweden PM issues statement on shooting
13:47
,
Tom Watling
The former prime minister of Sweden has issued a statement on the shooting, urging the public to follow the instructions of the local authorities.
Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson wrote: “Following the terrible information about the shooting at a school in Örebro.
“My thoughts go out to those affected, their relatives and the police officers on the spot. Very important that the public now follows the instructions of the Police and other authorities.”
Five people shot in Sweden school attack
13:43
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Tom Watling
Five people have been shot at an adult education centre in Sweden, police have said, with four in the hospital.
Authorities say that the danger wasn't over and urged the public to stay away from the school.
The extent of the victims' injuries wasn't immediately clear. The adult education center is about 125 miles west of Stockholm.
Students are being sheltered in nearby buildings. Other parts of the school were evacuated following the violence.
"The reports of violence in Orebro are very serious. The police are on site and the operation is in full swing. The government is in close contact with the police, and is closely following developments," Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer told Swedish news agency TT.
In pictures: Police search Swedish school after shooting
13:41
,
Tom Watling
Below, we have some pictures from the scene as police are searching the school in southern Sweden.
No police wounded in the shooting, officials say
13:40
No police officers have been wounded in the shooting, officials have reported.
The situation remains dangerous, however, the police added in a separate statement.
Four people in hospital, say local authorities
13:39
,
Tom Watling
Four people are in hospital following a shooting in an adult education centre, local authorities have said.
“At the moment, we do not know the age of the injured. Nor the injury situation,” they added.
They described the scene as “Ongoing fatal violence at school in Örebro”
