Sweden school attack: sword attacker had racist motive, say police

The attacker, who was dressed in a black trench coat, mask and helmet, posed with pupils who thought he was playing a Halloween prank at a school in the industrial town of Trollhatan. In the wake of the school attack, one teacher and one student died from their stab wounds and the sword-wielding masked man also died from gunshot injuries from the police in a shootout that occurred to stop his rampage.

Security footage from the school showed the killer marching through school corridors and stopping to talk to light-skinned students, police said.

“This gives a picture that the perpetrator had a racist motive when he committed the crimes at Kronan school”, Trollhattan police said in a statement. Police said the 23-year-old suspect was brought to a hospital where he died.

Police spokeswoman Jenny Widen said the two people killed were both male – a teaching assistant born in 1995 and a student born in 1998. “And those with dark skin were attacked”, investigator Thord Haraldsson said. When police searched the suspect’s home, they found what looked to be a suicide note and evidence that the event was planned beforehand. They said the assailant had considered the attack his final act.

Fuxborg said officers found an injured man outside the school and a dead man just inside. None of the victims have been identified by authorities.

Not less than 400 pupils are said to be taught at the school.

We appreciate it when readers and people quoted in articles or blog posts point out errors of fact or emphasis and will investigate all assertions. Sweden received the greatest share of EU’s 626,000 asylum seekers previous year based on its population size and is expected to receive 74,000 asylum seekers in 2015, compared to 85,000 in 2014, according to its migration board. Sweden prides itself on its openness, generous welfare benefits, and social cohesion, and violent crime remains relatively rare, especially in schools.

The school attack has shocked the entire country, with many praising the slain Kurd for being the first to intervene. “Maybe because of the distorted debate in the society”, Imam Abdi Rizak Wabari said during Friday prayers at a nearby mosque. It certainly seems to have been created to maximize fear – not only did the attack take place in an area with a high proportion of immigrants at a time of heightened concern about refugees, the attacker wore a Darth Vader-inspired costume while he attacked students and staff with a sword. Students must go through the public café to reach the school’s cafeteria and other parts of the building.

“This is a black day for Sweden”, Prime Minister Stephen Löfven said. He reportedly knocked on the doors of two classrooms and then stabbed his victims.

Photos by a local news agency showed several ambulances and police cars on the scene as the emergency services dealt with distraught adults and teenagers.

“This happens in two different classrooms, and one of (the attacked students) is now deceased”.