Man armed with sword injures several people at Swedish high school

On August 21, a sword attack at a high school in Fagersta, Sweden, resulted in the death of one person and injuries to three others, with two victims in serious condition. Swedish police announced that an 18-year-old former student entered the school, where he was subsequently shot and arrested by authorities. The attacker had a previous assault conviction and was wearing a helmet and a sword, similar to a 2015 incident in Trollhattan where three people were killed in a racially-motivated attack.

Local police chief Tommy Alriksson reported that the assailant was found dead after being shot by police. Two boys, aged between 12 and 17, were being treated in the hospital. The motive for the attack remains unclear. The school, which has around 450 students, was located in a town of approximately 12,000 inhabitants. Parents gathered outside the school in concern, with some learning that their children were being kept in the library.

This incident has raised fears among the community, following a previous threat to another school in May.