One person has been killed and two others seriously injured in a sword attack at a school in central Sweden, police said.
Police chief Tommy Alriksson told a news conference that an 18-year-old male suspect had been arrested following the attack at the school in the town of Fagersta, north-west of the capital Stockholm.
Police confirmed that shots were fired during the arrest. It was not clear whether the suspect had been injured, but he was being held in custody — not treated in a hospital.
The attack took place at the Brinell School in the city, while classes were being held, officials said.
There was no immediate word on the attacker’s possible motive.
“We have no reason at this time to believe that there are multiple perpetrators,” said Mr Alriksson, adding that an investigation was continuing.
Sweden’s national police said investigators have already carried out two house searches in connection with the suspect. Many witnesses were expected to be interviewed as part of the investigation.
“That’s why we can’t give out too much information, because we don’t want to influence witnesses,” Mr Alriksson said.
Vastmanland County, where the town is located, said the two seriously injured boys were between 12 and 17 years old, the TT news agency reported. It did not provide details about the dead person.
Police spokesperson Pelle Vamstad, quoted by TT, said an alarm was received in early Friday afternoon. Police cordoned off a wide area around the school as part of their response.
Several nearby schools had been locked down following the incident, and roadblocks were set up, authorities said.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in a post earlier on the X social media platform, lamented the violence in Fagersta “right after the summer break”.
“We do not yet know what lies behind the act, but we know that the police are working very intensively,” he added. “Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
The Fagersta city government set up a crisis centre in a sports hall near the school. The Vastmanland County government said “many people” were affected and that police, fire services and healthcare workers were among those caring for them.
