![Sweden’s Deadliest Mass Shooting Shakes Immigrant Community](https://www.daynews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Swedens-Deadliest-Mass-Shooting-Shakes-Immigrant-Community.webp)
A devastating school shooting in Örebro, Sweden, has left ten students dead, marking the country’s worst mass shooting. The attack, which took place at an adult learning center, has deeply impacted Sweden’s immigrant community, as many of the victims were from immigrant backgrounds. The gunman, identified by media as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, also took his own life.
A Community in Mourning
Among the victims was 29-year-old Salim Iskef, a Syrian refugee who had fled war-torn Aleppo with his mother and sister. A member of the local Syrian Orthodox Church, Iskef was described as kind and dedicated to helping others. His fiancée, Kareen Elia, 24, was inconsolable at a memorial service, overcome with grief just months before their planned wedding.
At the memorial, mourners from various immigrant communities gathered to light candles and offer prayers. Children from the congregation sang hymns as people tried to process the tragedy. The city remains in shock, struggling to understand why such an attack occurred.
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Fear and Uncertainty
Authorities have yet to reveal a clear motive, creating unease among Örebro’s immigrant population. Many residents are demanding answers, questioning whether the attack was random or targeted. Nour Afram, who was inside the school when the shooting began, recalled the terrifying moment she heard gunshots. “At first, I thought it was a prank. Then I heard the shots—one, then several more. I ran for my life.”
The lack of information from the police has fueled speculation. While initial reports suggested no ideological motive, investigators later stated they were still considering all possibilities. For many in the immigrant community, fear has set in.
“We are foreigners. We have to be careful now,” said Zaki Aydin, a Syriac language teacher. He has started keeping classroom doors locked, something he never had to do before. “We don’t feel safe anymore.”
Sweden Faces a Changing Reality
For many, this attack has shattered Sweden’s reputation as a safe country. Residents compare it to the school shootings often reported in the U.S. “A nightmare has come true,” said 18-year-old Gabriel, a student at the school. “We never thought this could happen here.”
Academics studying racism in Sweden point to growing anti-immigrant rhetoric in the country’s political climate. “This attack reflects how divided our society has become,” said Tomas Poletti Lundström, a researcher at Uppsala University. “When political leaders use anti-immigrant language, it creates an atmosphere where violence can emerge.”
Calls for Answers and Action
Local leaders, including Örebro’s mayor, John Johansson, have urged police to provide clarity as soon as possible. “The city needs answers, and the families of the victims deserve to know why this happened,” Johansson stated.
As the investigation continues, residents hope for justice and a sense of closure. But for now, Örebro remains a city in mourning, grappling with the reality of a tragedy that has changed its sense of security forever.
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