Fjärde februari – A Day of Sorrow and its Meaning
The tragic shooting at Risbergska School in Örebro has sent shockwaves throughout Sweden. As the day unfolded, rumors of five casualties escalated to police reports of a dozen dead and numerous injured, solidifying the mass shooting as the deadliest in Swedish history. This is a reality our society must grapple with in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
The Reality of Violence in Sweden
The fact that such atrocities now occur in Sweden, not just far away across the Atlantic, is undeniably chilling. This sentiment likely resonates with most Swedes at this moment. It happened in Columbine, in Sandy Hook, and now in Örebro. In recent years, more Swedish schools have begun implementing protocols and drills in preparation for attacks or gang violence. The challenge, as school commentator and principal Linnea Lindquist pointed out, is that it is practically impossible to fully prepare for the worst. There are scenarios where evacuation is necessary, while in others, lockdown may be the right decision or fatal. Not all schools can be transformed into impenetrable fortresses.
As of now, we know very little about the deceased shooter in Örebro and his motives. He was not previously known to the police, and no evidence has yet supported an ideological motive for the act.
Remembering the Victims
While much remains unknown about the shooter, we do know more about the victims, both the living and the dead. They are the ones who need to be at the forefront of our minds in the coming days. A dozen lives lost mean a dozen grieving families who will need assistance in coping with their loss. As the police work to identify the deceased, they live in crushing uncertainty. For some, it will end with devastating news. The nation’s trauma becomes their own deeply personal one. The same applies to the large number of injured, the survivors. We know they will need others to come together, see them, listen to them, and support them.
In the midst of darkness, we must hold on to the truth – at least we have each other, and we can help each other.
Appreciating Acts of Courage
Many brave efforts were made on the fourth of February. The police officers who were first on the scene entered the school without knowing what they would face and at the risk of their lives. This is the reality of active deadly violence. The courage they displayed deserves gratitude.
Örebro is now keeping all schools in the municipality open and offering crisis support to students in need. Schools should be a safe haven, and even when the incident did not occur at their own school, it evokes thoughts and fears in young minds that they need to address. Like previous school attacks in Trollhättan or against Malmö Latin School. For younger children, Lilla Aktuellt had a chat, but it is also up to parents to have conversations with their children. Videos capturing the sounds of gunfire circulate in both traditional and social media – children should not be left alone to process the horrors they encounter on screens.
Moving Forward Together
It is only by moving forward together that we can combat fear. The fourth of February became a day of sorrow, but it is the acts of kindness people show each other in the aftermath that prevent us from losing faith in humanity.
