Police shoot and detain sword attacker after several wounded at Swedish school

Attack at Brinell School

An assailant armed with a sword or machete wounded multiple people on Friday afternoon at Brinell School in Fagersta, a municipality in Vastmanland province approximately 170 kilometres northwest of Stockholm. Emergency services received the first distress call at 14:06 reporting an active case of deadly violence at the secondary school, which educates approximately 500 students. While municipal authorities did not immediately release an official victim tally, local reporting from Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet indicated that at least two people sustained injuries during the assault.

First responders and armed police officers arrived at the campus shortly after 14:00. Inside the facility, officers engaged the armed suspect, firing shots that struck him in the leg and brought him under control. Police took the suspect into custody at the scene, though officials did not immediately disclose his identity, age, or whether he had any prior connection to the school.

Police intervention and municipal lockdown

Following the suspect's arrest, law enforcement deployed specialized units, multiple ambulances, and a police helicopter to secure the area and treat casualties. Officers established roadblocks around the school grounds and urged the public to follow instructions while technical teams conducted searches throughout the building. Police spokesperson Pelle Vamstad confirmed that the immediate threat to the local population had passed.

We have an ongoing operation in the area and that is the only thing we can say at the moment.

Investigators subsequently began reviewing video recordings from security cameras inside the school and nearby properties. Speaking to Swedish news agency TT, Vamstad noted that camera footage would help determine the perpetrator's route, the exact time of entry, and whether the attack involved advance planning or accomplices. In response to the violence, Fagersta municipal officials closed and evacuated several surrounding schools and municipal facilities, deploying dedicated crisis teams to assist affected students, staff, and families.

Official response and political reactions

National officials and political leaders quickly addressed the violence in Fagersta. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated in a message to broadcaster SVT that the motives behind the attack remained unclear while emergency operations proceeded.

I ask everyone to let the police and rescue services work undisturbed. Our thoughts are with all those affected.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer announced that the Swedish government remains in direct contact with regional police commands to follow the investigation as details emerge.

We have been informed of a serious incident in Fagersta. The police are on site and working very intensively with the incident.

Opposition leader Magdalena Andersson, head of the Swedish Social Democrats, also addressed the incident on social media, expressing solidarity with the municipality.

Terrible news from Fagersta. My thoughts are with those affected and all who are touched by this.

Context of school violence in Sweden

Violent assaults within educational institutions remain relatively rare in Sweden, though the country has experienced several severe incidents over the past decade.

In October 2015, a masked perpetrator armed with a sword carried out an attack at a school in Trollhattan in south-western Sweden. That assault resulted in the deaths of a teacher and two students, alongside two other wounded victims, before police fatally shot the attacker. In February 2025, an armed assailant attacked the Campus Risbergska adult education centre in Orebro, killing 10 people and injuring six others. In Fagersta, police continue forensic examinations to determine the motive behind Friday's assault.