Around 10 people have been killed in a shooting at an adult education centre, Swedish police said, the deadliest attack to take place in Sweden on what the prime minister said was a "painful day" for the country, APA reports citing Reuters.
The gunman is believed to be among those killed and a search is continuing at the school for other possible victims, the local police chief told a press conference. The perpetrator's motive was not immediately known.
"We know that 10 or so people have been killed here today. The reason that we can't be more exact currently is that the extent of the incident is so large," local police chief Roberto Eid Forest told reporters.
Forest said police believed the gunman had acted alone and that they did not currently suspect terrorism as a motive, though he cautioned that much remained unknown. He said the suspected gunman had not previously been known to police.
"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 ... Obviously, it's a significant amount of work." he said.
Police said they had opened an investigation into murder, arson and an aggravated weapons offence and that the search for possible further victims had continued into the evening.
***18:28
At least five people have been shot at a school in Sweden amid reports of a "shooting with an automatic weapon", APA reports citing GB News.
"Several people" were initially said to be injured at Risbergska School in Orebro, southern Sweden, local media reported - with police locking down the building and urging the public to stay away.
"Listen to the police officers at the scene," a police statement read shortly before 12.30 UK time. "The operation concerns threats of deadly violence. The operation is still ongoing."
A later statement confirmed: "There has been a shooting at the school. Four people have been shot. The extent of the injuries is unclear. The operation is still ongoing.
"The charges are currently attempted murder, arson and an aggravated weapons offence."
That number has since been raised to five.
Footage from the scene shows a number of armed police and emergency services amassed outside the junior part of the school - with some people thought to still be inside.
Some pupils are being held in nearby schools near to the affected area as well as Risbergska School itself "for security purposes", police confirmed.
"We can't go out, it's dangerous for us. We've heard several shots outside," one person told Swedish outlet Aftonbladet.
Sweden's justice minister Gunnar Strommer later told the newspaper: "The information about violent acts in Orebro is very serious. The police are on site and the operation is in full swing.
"The government is in close contact with the police and is following developments closely."
