Sweden plans tighter gun laws after deadly school shooting

Sweden's government has announced plans to tighten gun laws following the confirmation of details regarding the victims of the country's deadliest mass shooting. On Friday, police revealed that seven women and four men, aged between 28 and 68, were killed in the attack, including the gunman. All the victims were from Orebro County, the region where the incident occurred.

Authorities confirmed the shooter was a 35-year-old man, widely identified in Swedish media as Rickard Andersson. It was previously reported that the gunman legally owned four rifles, three of which were recovered from the scene along with ten empty magazines.

Sweden Plans Stricter Gun Laws After Deadly School Shooting

Sweden's government has announced plans to tighten its gun laws following the country’s deadliest mass shooting. On Friday, police revealed the identities of those killed in the attack, which claimed the lives of seven women and four men aged between 28 and 68, including the gunman. All victims were from Orebro County, where the shooting occurred.

The 35-year-old gunman, identified in Swedish media as Rickard Andersson, legally owned four rifles, three of which were found at the scene, along with 10 empty magazines.

In response, Sweden's centre-right coalition government stated it would increase vetting for gun licenses and impose further restrictions on semi-automatic weapons. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, on a visit to Latvia, emphasized the need to ensure that only the right people have access to firearms.

The Sweden Democrats also supported tightening gun laws, calling for greater restrictions on weapons like the AR-15, a semi-automatic rifle often used in mass shootings in the U.S. While police have not disclosed which weapons were used in the attack, they confirmed that several long rifles were found at the site.

Under current Swedish gun laws, individuals over 18 with no criminal record can apply for permits for shotguns, handguns, or semi-automatic rifles. Around 580,000 Swedes have a weapons license, according to Swedish broadcaster SVT.

Though police have not publicly identified the victims or disclosed a motive, it has been reported that among those killed were Syrians who fled the war as refugees, as well as a Bosnian. The lack of official information has caused fear and uncertainty in the immigrant communities of Orebro.

One witness, Nour Afram, who was inside the Risbergska school when the attack started, expressed the need for more information. She described hearing gunshots as she fled the building. "I was so scared I felt like my heart stopped in my chest," she said.

While Sweden has relatively high gun ownership compared to other European countries, most weapons are legally owned for hunting purposes. Gun crime is typically associated with gang violence, though non-gang-related shootings are rare. This marks Sweden's first school shooting and the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history.