A Day of Terror in Sweden

Being in a classroom when suddenly, shots ring out. Chaos erupts, and people scramble for safety. This is what happened at an adult education center in Orebro, Sweden, about 125 miles west of Stockholm. It was a day that would leave at least 10 people dead and five seriously injured. The incident left the Scandinavian nation in shock, as gun violence in schools is uncommon. The school, Campus Risbergska, offers a range of educational classes for adults, including Swedish-language courses for immigrants and vocational training for those with disabilities. Students and teachers found themselves in a terrifying situation. Hellen Werme, a 35-year-old healthcare student, was in the middle of a lesson when the first shots were heard. She thought of her two young children as she hid with others, fearing for her life. The group huddled behind hospital beds, waiting in silence for what felt like an eternity. Werme later described the hours spent hiding as the worst of her life, not knowing if she would survive. Another student, Mirna Essa, recalled a chilling moment. She heard a woman pleading, "No, no, no, " followed by a gunshot. The chaos unfolded quickly, leaving her running for safety. The incident was so overwhelming that she couldn't process what was happening. She described it as a scene from a movie, questioning, "Why? " The sound of the first shots led to immediate action. Andreas Sundling, another student, initially thought people were fighting outside. He and others quickly locked and barricaded the classroom doors with furniture, hiding under tables as more shots rang out. The ordeal lasted for nearly three hours, until the police arrived. The aftermath was grim. Blood covered the floors, and students had to take matters into their own hands. Marwa, a student who asked to be identified only by her first name, performed first aid on a man shot in the shoulder. With no police or ambulance on site, she and her friend used a shawl to stop the bleeding. She described the scene as everyone being shocked and trying to help each other. Teacher Mattias Jansson, who was trained to handle emergencies, played a critical role in evacuating people. He heard shouts for evacuation and quickly led others to safety. The training he received proved invaluable in a real-life crisis. The shooting was one of the worst mass shootings in Sweden's history, leaving the community in shock and mourning. The incident highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and the resilience of those who were there. It also raised questions about how to prevent such tragedies in the future. The community is still grappling with the aftermath of the tragedy.