Ismail Moradi, a 16-year-old student, would typically be carrying his textbooks to school. However, on Wednesday, he was holding a bouquet of red flowers to honor the victims of Sweden's deadliest mass shooting.
I was shocked and uncertain about coming to school today after the nearby tragedy, he shares with us. Ismail's elementary school is located next to the adult learning center that was attacked yesterday.
Despite the absence of a declared motive by the police, Ismail, who is Kurdish, suspects a racial component in the shooting. This school mainly serves newcomers to Sweden. There are few Swedish people here, so I believe it was targeting a specific group.
The Swedish authorities are still investigating the shooter's background and have not confirmed that the attack, which claimed 11 lives, was targeted.
Hellen Werme, a 35-year-old trainee nurse who survived the shooting, recounts how she and her classmates barricaded themselves in a classroom as the shooter roamed the halls. She recalls, We could hear the gunshots. I feared I might not see my children again.
Outside the college, we encounter a solemn atmosphere, with locals continuously lighting candles while looking toward the sealed-off school grounds. The stunned expressions in the cold breeze reflect the profound shock felt by many Swedes in the last 24 hours.
As Swedish King arrives to lay flowers, a respectful silence envelops the area, mirroring the somber national mood with flags flying at half-mast.
The unified sorrow is amplified by the lack of an explanation for the attack. Despite an extensive investigation by the police, there has been no disclosure.
With over 100 specialist officers engaged at various levels, from local to national, the public and politicians are eager for answers about the tragic event.
Unconfirmed reports from the Swedish media suggest the gunman was a 35-year-old local resident who possessed the firearm legally.
Reham Attala, a 21-year-old law student, believes the choice of this college, known for its immigrant students, was deliberate. She expresses her distress, saying, It's heartbreaking and terrifying. This should never have occurred.
Reham, whose father is Syrian and mother is Palestinian, considers Sweden her home after living in Orebro for 11 years. She is perturbed that the attack targeted a school where Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) classes are conducted.
These individuals who lost their lives were learning Swedish, and it makes me question my future here, whether I can raise children in this environment, she reflects, emphasizing the importance of a safe and peaceful campus for learning.