Masked Man ‘With Sword Or Knife’ Kills Teacher, Injures 4 At Swedish School

Police cordon an area after a masked man attacked people with a sword at a school in Trollhattan, western Sweden October 22, 2015. © Stig Hedstrom / TT News Agency / Reuters

A teacher was killed and four others injured by a masked attacker with a sword or knife at a school in the city of Trollhättan in southwest Sweden, local media report.  “A single man went into the school building...and he injured four persons – two male adults and two boys," police media officer Stefan Gustafsson told RT.

He confirmed that an adult male had been killed.

Sweden's Channel 4 said the killed man was a teacher who died at the scene.

The press secretary of NAL hospital, Niklas Claesson, told RT by phone that “two kids (11 and 16 years of age), one teacher and the suspect" were brought in.

Claesson said the attacker was shot and is in serious, yet stable, condition.

He initially said the suspect was shot dead by police but later recalled his statement, saying the man is still alive and that he "regrets" his previous comment.

© Google Maps

Gustafsson said a suspect armed with a "sword of some kind or a large knife” entered the Kronan School at about 10:10 a.m., and that police drew their weapons at the scene.

“We know nothing at all [about the attacker],” he said, adding that the suspect was taken to hospital after being shot.

The attack occurred in the school cafeteria, prompting Trollhättan Municipality to deploy its crisis team.

The school was engulfed in chaos following the incident, with students and teachers crying and in distress, TTELA photographer Stefan Bennhage said, as cited by Norwaegian newspaper Aftonbladet.

He described hundreds of people standing around the main street, adding that some were trying to get past the police cordon. 

Gustaffson said the incident is now over, and the situation in the town is beginning to calm down. He added, however, that family members are still arriving at the school to check on friends and relatives.

Following the incident, Swedish Teacher's Union president Johanna JaaraAstrand tweeted: “Terrible what happened in Trollhättan! Think of the children, staff and families. All support to them in this unimaginable situation!” 

The school is attended by more than 400 children, according to its website. Students range from around age six to 15.

The attack occurred in Kronogården, a disadvantaged area where more than half the population were born abroad.