Questions remain as authorities withhold details on motive, leaving residents in shock and uncertainty.
A deadly shooting in Orebro, Sweden, has left the local immigrant community in fear and mourning. On Tuesday, Sweden witnessed its worst-ever mass shooting, when a gunman killed 10 students at the Risbergska adult learning centre before taking his own life.
Among the victims was 29-year-old Salim Iskef, a Syrian refugee who had fled war-torn Aleppo with his family. Jacob Kasselia, an Orthodox priest who knew Iskef, described him as a kind and helpful individual who was well integrated into the local community. Iskef had been studying Swedish at the school, preparing for his future in Sweden. His fiancée, Kareen Elia, is devastated by the loss, as their wedding had been planned for this summer.
The police in Orebro have not confirmed the identity of the gunman, nor have they provided any information about his motive. Swedish media have reported that the suspect is a 35-year-old local, Rickard Andersson, but official confirmation remains pending. Authorities have said that the shooter did not appear to be motivated by any specific ideology, though police continue to investigate multiple possible motives.
For residents, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, the lack of official information has sparked fear and confusion. Nour Afram, a Syrian immigrant who was present at the school during the shooting, said she felt a deep sense of uncertainty. “We need more information,” she said. “We don’t know why he targeted this school, why did he do it?”
Many locals, particularly those from Middle Eastern communities, are now questioning their safety. Zaki Aydin, a teacher in Orebro, expressed concern for his students, many of whom are immigrants. “We are foreigners, we have to be careful now,” Aydin said, noting that security measures at local schools have been tightened in response to the attack.
With no clear motive and limited details from the authorities, the community is left grappling with the tragedy. Tomas Poletti Lundstrom, a researcher at Uppsala University, linked the shooting to the rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric in Sweden. “This is the result of how our society looks at the moment, how our politicians talk, and how we talk about one another,” he said, emphasising the deepening divisions in Swedish society.
The investigation continues, but the absence of concrete answers has left residents and victims’ families in a state of limbo. At a memorial service held in Orebro, the grief was palpable. Iskef’s photo stood at the centre of the service, as his family and members of the local immigrant communities gathered in mourning.
While some, like Orebro’s mayor, have urged caution and patience in awaiting official conclusions, the uncertainty continues to fuel fear and suspicion among the people of Orebro, particularly within the immigrant communities that have long called the city home.
