Witnesses share accounts of chaos, bloodshed in Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting

A grieving process is hard to do alone,

the king told reporters after laying white flowers at a memorial site with candles near the school

A guy next to me was shot in the shoulder. He was bleeding a lot. When I looked behind me I saw three people on the floor bleeding. Everyone was shocked. They said: 'Go out! Get out!',

a student named Marwa told broadcaster TV4

We will get back on what motives there are,

local police chief Roberto Eid Forest told a news conference

In this dark hour, we stand with the people of Sweden."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her sympathy on X, saying

At this time, there are 11 deaths due to the incident. The number of injured is still unclear. We currently have no information on the condition of those who have been injured."

Later in the evening the police website said

We have a big crime scene, we have to complete the searches we are conducting in the school. There are a number of investigative steps we are taking: a profile of the perpetrator, witness interviews,

Forest said

We saw a lot of police with drawn weapons,

said Lingam Tuohmaki, 42, who lives in the same building

It is hard to take in the full extent of what has happened today — the darkness that now lowers itself across Sweden tonight,

he told a news conference

We've been trying to get hold of him all day, we haven't been successful,

he said ... adding that

Many of them have fled from countries where things like this happen and now they experience it here,

she said of her students, who are training to become kitchen staff

My cousin called her and she started crying,

he said

The sun is shining outside, but in our hearts it is dark,

the priest who is conducting the service said

We haven't had much contact with him in recent years. As a child he was different but lively. He did well in school. In recent years he has had a hard time,

the relative told Aftonbladet

Two pylons are extinguished while two pylons are illuminated with the colors of the Swedish flag, which is intended to symbolize a form of half-mast flag flying,

it added

He sometimes comes along when his siblings come home and it's Christmas Eve or something else to celebrate. His mom and dad are out traveling a lot, so he usually takes care of their dog. He spends a lot of time at their house,

they added

At the moment we are confident that no more attacks will occur. The schools that were occupied have been evacuated,

police chief Roberto Eid Forest said, ... according to broadcaster SVT

I took all my 15 students out into the hallway and we started running,

she told Reuters by phone

We heard three bangs and loud screams,

he told the Expressen newspaper while sheltering in a classroom

Your grief is our grief. We are here with you.”

Speaking later at a press conference, he hailed the courage of first responders and those caught up in the “heinous” attack, telling the victims

I saw people dragging injured out, first one, then another. I realised it was very serious,

she said