Sweden’s right-wing government announced plans on Friday to introduce stricter gun regulations following the country’s deadliest mass shooting at an adult education center. The attacker, who reportedly used multiple legally owned firearms, carried out the attack at Campus Risbergska in Orebro.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed the lives of ten individuals before the suspect—identified by media reports and a Reuters source as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson—turned the weapon on himself. Authorities have yet to release official details about the victims but confirmed that several were Christian refugees from Syria. Police stated that no ideological motive had been established at this stage.
In response to the attack, the government has agreed with its far-right parliamentary allies to impose stricter background checks for gun license applicants and restrict access to certain semi-automatic weapons. One of the main targets for prohibition is the AR-15, a firearm modeled after military rifles, which has been linked to numerous mass shootings in the United States.
“In light of the tragic events in Orebro, we believe the right course of action is to tighten gun laws and ban such weapons,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told Reuters. While it remains unclear what firearms were used in the attack, the proposed AR-15 ban is seen as a precautionary measure.
“We recognize that with slight modifications, these weapons can become highly dangerous, and they have been used in similar attacks globally,” Strommer added.
Since their approval for hunting in 2023, approximately 3,500 AR-15 rifles have been legally registered in Sweden. Alongside banning these firearms, the government plans to enhance communication between law enforcement agencies and the National Board of Health and Welfare to prevent individuals with medical conditions from obtaining gun licenses.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized the need for stricter ownership controls, stating, “We must ensure that firearms in Sweden are only in the right hands.”
The Social Democrats, Sweden’s primary opposition party, supported the government’s decision but called for even more rigorous background checks and firearm restrictions. “February 4 marks a turning point,” said Social Democrat lawmaker Theresa Carvalho.
Authorities have not confirmed the exact weapons used in the attack but revealed that three licensed rifles belonging to the suspect were discovered near his body. Reports indicate that he held a hunting license. The tragedy has also reignited concerns over security measures at Swedish schools, which, unlike in many countries, have minimal access restrictions.
To enhance security, the government is considering fast-tracking legislation that would simplify the installation of surveillance cameras in educational institutions, Strommer told Swedish media on Thursday.
Investigators disclosed that the suspect had permits for four rifles, three of which were found at the scene alongside ten emptied ammunition magazines and additional rounds. While Sweden has a high rate of firearm ownership compared to other European nations, most guns are legally registered for hunting purposes. However, an ongoing wave of gang-related violence has highlighted the issue of illegal firearms.
According to a 2017 report by The Small Arms Survey, a Swiss research institute, Swedish civilians owned approximately 2.3 million firearms—about 23 guns per 100 people. This figure is significantly lower than the United States, which has 120 guns per 100 people, but higher than the United Kingdom, where the rate stands at 4.6 per 100 people.
As the nation grieves, investigators continue working to uncover a possible motive. Authorities are exploring reports that the suspect was once a student at the school, which serves around 2,700 students, including approximately 800 individuals enrolled in Swedish language courses for immigrants.
