One dead after sword attack at Fagersta school
Saturday 22nd August 2026 on 09:15 in
Sweden
One person has died and two others were seriously injured after a man armed with a sword entered Brinellskolan, a school in Fagersta, SVT reported. The suspected attacker, an 18-year-old former student, has been detained on suspicion of, among other offences, murder.
Police received the first report of ongoing deadly violence at a school in Fagersta at 2:06 p.m. Several patrols were heading to Brinellskolan three minutes later.
At 2:16 p.m., the first patrol at the scene reported that the attacker had been subdued. Police fired shots during the arrest.
Officers continued into the school to secure the premises and stop any further violence. They found one person dead inside, according to Tommy Alriksson, head of the local police area.
Healthcare services reported that two people had been seriously injured and another had suffered minor injuries.
Fagersta Municipality entered emergency management at 2:20 p.m. Region Västmanland also moved into emergency management later in the afternoon to coordinate resources and gain an overview of the situation.
At 2:54 p.m., police were still searching the school. Students were being sheltered at Olympen, Fagerstahallen, Risbroskolan, Skogsgläntan, Björksta, Prästkragen and Norrbybacken.
Police also searched several properties, questioned witnesses at the scene and carried out several searches of premises.
Fagersta Municipality opened a crisis centre at Risbrohallen at 4 p.m. for people who were worried or needed support, information or someone to talk to.
At 4:56 p.m., the municipality said children and other students could leave the schools and preschools where they had been sheltered. Parents and guardians were told they could collect their children.
Fagersta Municipality and police held a press conference at 9 p.m. Police said they would question a large number of additional witnesses and gather other information about the incident.
Asked whether the suspected attacker was receiving treatment in hospital, Alriksson said no and stated that the suspect was being held in police custody.