Sweden's worst mass shooting left at least 11 people dead, including the gunman, and at least five seriously wounded at an adult education center west of Stockholm. The gunman’s motive wasn't immediately determined as the Scandinavian nation by, where gun violence at schools is rare, reeled from an attack, the Associated Press reports. Officials said that three women and two men, all with gunshot wounds, underwent surgery. All were in serious but stable condition. Another woman was treated for minor injuries. All of the victims are over age 18. The school, called Campus Risbergska, offers primary and secondary educational classes for adults age 20 and older, Swedish-language classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities. The school is on the outskirts of Orebro, about 125 miles west of Stockholm.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the shooting “an event that shakes our entire society to its core.” King Carl XVI Gustaf and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at the Royal Palace and government buildings. The king and Queen Silvia were in Orebro and would visit the school district and attend a memorial service in the city. Soccer teams Degerfors IF and Orebro Syrianska will wear black armbands at a preseason match on Wednesday evening and hold a minute’s silence before kickoff. The shooting started Tuesday afternoon after many students had gone home following a national exam. Students sheltered in nearby buildings, and other parts of the school were evacuated. Police said that officers discovered the gunman dead at the school. It was unclear how the gunman died. Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police, said that the school’s large premises meant it took a long time for officers to search the campus to ensure there were not any more victims. Police heard gunshots when they arrived and initially thought they were being fired upon, he said. Eid Forest said that six officers were treated for smoke inhalation. Authorities didn’t immediately know what caused the smoke.
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