Girl (17) Killed

Sweden: Sword-Wielding Attacker Admired Mass Murderers

The attacker was subdued and arrested immediately after the attack. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson visited the scene of the crime on Saturday.(Bild: Krone-Collage/EPA/Fredrik Sandberg, EPA/Magnus Lejhall)

Sweden is in shock following the deadly sword attack at Brinellskolan School in Fagersta. On Friday, an 18-year-old attacked several teenagers; a 17-year-old girl was killed. The attacker is said to have not only had mental health issues in the past—he also paid homage to right-wing extremists and mass murderers online.

According to Swedish Radio, the perpetrator is believed to be a former student at the high school who still had an access card. The man was known to authorities—he is said to have violently attacked a classmate years ago. 

The alarm was received on Friday at 2:06 p.m. “At 2:16 p.m., the perpetrator was subdued and arrested. The police fired shots during the incident,” a police spokesperson reported. 

The attacker was subdued and arrested immediately after the attack. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson visited the crime scene on Saturday.(Bild: Krone-Collage/EPA/Fredrik Sandberg, EPA/Magnus Lejhall)

Many people in Fagersta are laying flowers and lighting candles at the memorial site for the 17-year-old who was killed.(Bild: EPA/Magnus Lejhall)

Act of madness caught on video
The police investigation is in full swing. More and more details are coming to light. For example, the perpetrator is said to have posted a picture of a sword on a TikTok account before the attack. The photo is said to have been taken in a school restroom. He is also said to have filmed his act of madness. 

Videos glorifying right-wing extremists
Investigations by “Expressen” and “Dagens Nyheter” point to a right-wing extremist background. The 18-year-old, who is said to have had mental health issues, glorified mass shooters and mass murderers in videos he created himself—including the Norwegian far-right extremist and mass murderer Anders Breivik. He is also said to have shared posts from the populist Örebro Party, the Alternative for Sweden party, and content from far-right circles.

Imitating the Trollhättan Attack?
According to *Die Welt*, the suspect is said to have focused particularly often on the racially motivated school attack in Trollhättan in 2015. At that time, Anton Lundin Pettersson killed three people with a sword at Kronan School. A teacher later succumbed to his injuries.

The perpetrator in Fagersta is said to have worn clothing similar to that worn by Pettersson during his attack—a black mask, a helmet, a long black coat, and a sword. It is still unclear whether that incident actually served as a direct model for this attack.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson visited Fagersta on Saturday together with opposition leader Magdalena Andersson.(Bild: EPA/Magnus Lejhall)

Grief, disbelief, and anger prevail in the town of 12,000 residents. “We have lost a girl who had her whole future ahead of her,” a teacher of the victim told the newspaper “Dagens Nyheter.” 

Prime Minister on the Scene
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson visited the crime scene on Saturday. Both had previously canceled their scheduled campaign appearances. They also spoke with young people affected by the attack. Like many others, the two laid flowers and lit candles in front of the school.

As recently as February 2025, eleven students were killed and others injured in a shooting rampage in Örebro. “A great deal has been done” in Örebro, but clearly “more needs to be done.” King Carl XVI Gustaf expressed his condolences.