Swedish police identify 17-year-old girl as victim in school sword attack

A 17-year-old female student became the fatal victim of a sword attack at Brinell High School in Fagersta, Sweden, on Friday afternoon, according to Swedish police. The attacker, an 18-year-old, entered the school with a sword just days after the school had reopened from its summer break. Police have detained the attacker after he was shot during his arrest.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson paid their respects to the deceased and three wounded victims on Saturday morning. Flowers and candles were left outside the school where the tragic incident occurred. The 17-year-old victim's identity was confirmed by police, though no further personal details were released.

Minnea, a fellow student at Brinell High School, expressed her shock and sadness at the loss of someone she knew, stating, "It's terrible to think that someone you sat at the same table with, someone you talked to, is suddenly dead." Two other students, aged 12 and 17, were seriously wounded in the attack, with one requiring emergency surgery.

Police chief Tommy Alriksson stated that investigators are currently seeking a motive for the attack, which has shocked the nation. The attacker, who had a prior assault conviction, was wearing a helmet and carrying a sword. His actions bear similarities to a 2015 school attack in Trollhattan, where a 21-year-old killed three people in a racially motivated incident.

A TikTok account belonging to the youth was under investigation, as it contained several videos referencing school attacks. The account was subsequently taken down.

The police investigation is being conducted at full speed, with numerous investigative measures being carried out to establish the sequence of events as precisely as possible. The tragic event is not the first of its kind in Swedish educational institutions. In February 2025, a 35-year-old man killed 10 people at an adult education center in Örebro, while in March 2022, an 18-year-old student stabbed two teachers to death at a secondary school in Malmo.