A gunman has killed 10 people at a school in Sweden, in the country’s worst ever mass shooting.
Police said the gunman was believed to be among those who died in the incident at the Risbergska school for adults in the city of Orebro, 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of Stockholm at 12:33 pm local time (11:44 am GMT) on Tuesday.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said it was the worst mass shooting in Swedish history.
“Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people,” Kristersson told a news conference in Stockholm.
The school, which caters for students aged over 20, offers primary and upper secondary school courses and classes for immigrants, vocational training and programs for people with intellectual disabilities.
Local police chief Roberto Eid Forest was quoted as saying police believed the gunman acted alone, he was not known to police and terrorism was not suspected as a motive but much remained unknown as investigations continued.
Swedish King Carl Gustaf said: "It is with deep sadness and dismay that my family and I received the news about the terrible atrocity in Orebro.”
Risbergska teacher Maria Pegado said someone opened the door to her classroom just after the lunch break and shouted to everyone to get out, according to a Reuters story.
"I took all my 15 students out into the hallway and we started running," she said.
"Then I heard two shots but we made it out. We were close to the school entrance.
"I saw people dragging injured out, first one, then another. I realised it was very serious.”
Sweden has a high level of gun ownership by European standards, but attacks at schools are rare.