Sweden school sword attack injures three, suspect held in Fagersta

Geneva,UPDATED: Aug 21, 2026 23:42 IST

At least three people were wounded in a sword attack at a school in central Sweden on Friday, and police later arrested a suspect, officials said. There was no immediate word on the possible motive behind the attack.

The attack took place at Brinell School in Fagersta, northwest of Stockholm. Two teenagers were seriously injured and one other person was being taken to hospital, according to Erik Bergman, a press officer for Vastmanland county, which includes Fagersta.

Bergman said classes were in session at the upper secondary school at the time of the attack, with about 400 to 500 students present. Police spokesperson Pelle Vamstad, quoted by TT news agency, said an alarm was received in the early afternoon and officers rushed to the scene. He said police would check any available camera footage as part of the investigation.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in a post on X, described it as a "serious incident" in Fagersta "right after the summer break". "There are reports of injured people. We do not yet know what lies behind the act, but we know that the police are working very intensively," he said. "Our thoughts are with all those affected."

The Fagersta city government said it had set up a crisis centre in a sports hall near the school. The Vastmanland county government said "many people" were affected and that police, fire services and healthcare workers were among those caring for them. Authorities also said several nearby schools were locked down and roadblocks were set up after the incident.

The attack at Brinell School left at least three people injured, including two teenagers seriously, triggered a major emergency response, and led to the arrest of a suspect as police continued to investigate what happened.

With PTI Inputs

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