Several people have been injured in a sword attack at a school in Fagersta, central Sweden, prompting a major police operation and the lockdown of eight schools in the area, with one suspect now in custody after reportedly being shot by police.
Several people have been injured after a person armed with a sword attacked a school in Fagersta, central Sweden, around 170km northwest of Stockholm. Police were called to the secondary school after reports of what Swedish authorities describe as “ongoing deadly violence,” a term used for serious incidents involving an immediate threat to life. One person has been taken into custody, with the school subsequently surrounded by a large-scale police and emergency services operation.
What happened
A spokesman for the local police force confirmed the initial response to the incident: “A call was received regarding a case of ongoing deadly violence at a school in Fagersta. Police have responded to the scene and one person has been taken into custody.” The spokesman added: “Police are continuing to work at the scene with a number of different resources. The public is urged to respect the roadblocks and listen to police instructions.”
At least two people are reported to have been injured in the attack, though authorities had not immediately confirmed the exact number of victims or the severity of their injuries. Swedish media have reported that the suspect was shot by police near the school, reportedly sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg before being taken into custody, though this detail had not been fully confirmed in the initial police statement.
Wider precautions
As a precautionary measure, eight schools across the Fagersta area were placed on lockdown while police dealt with the incident. The motive behind the attack has not yet been established, and authorities have not released details about the identity, age, or possible connection of the suspect to the school itself.
Part of a wider pattern in Sweden
The incident adds to a series of serious attacks at Swedish educational institutions in recent years. In February 2025, a shooting at the Risbergska education centre in Örebro became the deadliest school attack in Swedish history, underlining the concern such incidents continue to generate across the country.
The situation in Fagersta remains developing, and the number and condition of those injured could change as Swedish police and medical authorities release further information.
