Ten people have died in a mass shooting on Tuesday (Feb 4) at a school in Orebro, located in central Sweden, police in Örebro said. The suspected assailant is also among the dead. 

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A hospital spokesperson said five patients had been admitted, one with light injuries and four who required surgery. Of the four, two were out of surgery and stable, while another had serious injuries.

Roberto Eid Forest, the district chief of police in Orebro, confirmed that around 10 people were killed in the attack and that he couldn’t yet be more exact because “the extent of the incident is so large”.

The officers are still in the process of identifying the victims. None of the people hospitalised after the attack were children, police said. 

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A major police operation has been initiated following the shooting, which took place before 1 pm local time. 

The shooting is reported at Risbergska School in Orebro's Vasthaga district, police spokesperson Lars Hedelin confirmed to local media of "danger to life". 

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The police, in a statement, said, "This is currently seen as an attempted murder, arson and aggravated weapons offence." 

'Painful day'

Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, in a post on X, called the incident a "painful day for all of Sweden" and added that his thoughts are with those affected by the attack. 

He said that the government is in contact with emergency services at the scene and asks for time to investigate the attack. 

After the attack, the Swedish police held a press conference and said that five people had been hospitalised, and further cautioned that the number may go up. 

Out of five, four had to undergo surgeries, and one is in a serious condition, the authorities said. 

Health director Jonas Claesson said there may be more injuries. 

The suspected attacker is a man, police confirmed in the press conference. 

The police have now asked the people to proceed safely and leave the place after earlier having asked the people to stay in the shelter.

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Earlier, police said that the danger was "not over" and asked people to stay away from the area of Vasthaga in the city of Orebro. 

The shooting appears to have happened at a Komvux, or adult education centre. These centres are attended primarily by people who did not finish primary or secondary school. 

Moreover, students at the nearby schools were asked to be kept indoors "for security purposes". 

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'Very serious situation'

Swedish justice minister Gunnar Strommer told local media that the situation was “very serious” and the response to the incident was still underway.

The Swedish government remains in close contact with the authorities, he said.

Sweden's Left party leader Nooshi Dadgostar posted on social media, saying that her thoughts are with those affected. She further stressed that the country needs to "find our way out" of violence. 

The Swedish police will host a press conference about the "armed attack" at 3:30 pm local time (14:30 GMT). 

(With inputs from agencies)