Masked swordsman kills teacher, wounds students in Sweden

A masked attacker described as a man in black clothes with a long sword attacked students and teachers Thursday morning at a school in Trollhättan, Sweden, 45 minutes north of Gothenburg, police said. One teacher was killed and at least three others — another teacher and two students, ages 11 and 15 — were wounded, before police shot the suspect. The wounded, including the suspected attacker, were all being treated at the Trollhättan hospital. The police have not publicly identified the alleged killer, about age 20, but they are searching his home for clues.

The attack took place at a cafe on the grounds of Kronan school, for children 7 to 15, and a 14-year-old student named Laith told a Swedish television station that some students initially though the masked man with a sword with a joke, until they realized he wasn't and fled to classrooms or out of the building. A police spokesman tells NBC News that there is no information pointing to terrorism, but that police have "a lot of questions" and little idea of a possible motive.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up