Sweden gunman’s motives unknown five days after 10 killed: police

People gather at a makeshift memorial near the scene of a shooting on the outskirts of Orebro, Sweden, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) (Sergei Grits/AP)

Swedish police said Sunday they are struggling to establish the motive of a gunman who killed 10 people at an adult education centre in the country’s worst mass shooting.

Police confirmed the gunman was a former student at the Campus Risbergska in the central city of Orebro. A top officer also said that police action had prevented an even higher toll.

Police have not identified the gunman, who also died at the centre.

But media have named him as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, who had reportedly been living as an unemployed recluse and had psychological problems.

Orebro police commander Henrik Dahlstrom acknowledged that it was still not known what had sparked the killing spree on Tuesday.

“Through the work of the investigation carried out, we cannot for the moment establish that a clear motive exists,” Dahlstrom told a press conference. “We are working to see if there is one and what it could be”.

But he added that the toll could have been higher.

“I am convinced that our action influenced the course of events, halting the mortal violence,” Dahlstrom added.

Police have previously said they faced “an inferno” when officers went to the education centre under attack.

The gunman killed seven women and three men aged between 28 and 68. All lived in Orebro but different nationalities were involved.

The Syrian embassy in Stockholm has expressed condolences to two Syrian families, without giving details. The Bosnian foreign ministry said one Bosnian national was among the dead while another was wounded.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was due to speak to the nation about the shooting crisis on Sunday evening.