RICKARD Andersson has been named as the suspect in the mass shooting in Sweden.
The 35-year-old is accused of carrying out the country’s worst mass murder on Tuesday afternoon at an adult educational centre.
The suspected gunman was among the 11 people killed after opening fire yesterday at Campus Risbergska School in Orebro.
Andersson suffered from mental health problems and lived alone, local reports claim.
The suspect was also reportedly originally called Jonas Simon and was dubbed a loner in school.
One man who went to the same school told the Expressen that Andersson walked with his hood up and his hand over his mouth for years.
Another person said that he was called “Luvan” and believed his odd behaviour “must have been some form of extreme social phobia”.
In 2017, Jonas Simon reportedly changed his name to Rickard Andersson.
A close relative of Andersson also said that she remembers him being a “normal child” but had “no friends at all,” she told Expressen.
The suspect didn’t spend time with his family at Christmas as “he wasn’t feeling well mentally”.
The 35-year-old suspect was repeatedly denied military service, documents from the Swedish National Service Agency show.
Despite this, he was issued a license for four hunting rifles.
The Swedish National Service said the reason he was never called up for muster was due to him lacking upper secondary school qualifications, newspaper Aftonbladet was told.
And documents the paper has also seen show Andersson failed to meet goals to get a final grade in primary school.
Those close to the man unanimously testify about him having social and mental problems that began early on.
Following school, he is said to have lived alone.
During the heinous crime, the suspect is said to have carried three rifles and a knife – one of which was a standard hunting rifle with 30-06 caliber ammunition.
Reports also emerged that a shotgun was used during the massacre.
Following the attack on Tuesday, cops said that the suspect was unknown to them and they believe he acted alone.
Officers also said he had no links to gangs and is thought to have acted “without any ideological motive”.
Everything we know about the Swedish mass shooting
SWEDEN experienced its worst shooting in history when a gunman opened fire at an adult education centre on Tuesday.
The alarm was sounded around 12.30pm at the Campus Risbergska School in Orebro, around 200km west of Stockholm.
At least 11 people are believed to have been killed and police believe one of these in the gunman.
The shooter reportedly turned the gun on himself after his horror rampage.
Cops added that they believe he worked alone and have not confirmed his motivations.
Authorities said six people were being treated in hospital – four women and two men.
Five of these people have required surgery and remain in a serious condition.
Cops also said the death toll and number of injured could rise as they carry on with their investigation.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Tuesday’s attack was the worst in the country’s history and called it a “painful day”.
They also don’t believe the horrific shooting was motivated by terrorism.
Hours after the attack, heavily armed officers conducted a raid on a flat in Orebro believed to be registered to the man and used drones and a ladder truck, Swedish Radio reported.
The broadcaster found he didn’t have any convictions to his name and had declared no income over several years.
Sweden‘s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described Tuesday’s attack as the “worst mass shooting in Swedish history“.
He said: “Today, we have witnessed brutal, deadly violence against completely innocent people.
“This is the worst mass shooting in Swedish history. Many questions remain unanswered, and I cannot provide those answers either.”
Shocking footage showed several people appearing to be exiting the adult education center to the sound of gunshots.
Loud screams were heard as they rushed past a children’s playground.
In a separate clip, terrified students appeared to be barricaded in classrooms as alarms blared in the background.
The horrifying video saw people sat quietly in a classroom while the warning sound rang behind them.
Armed officers stormed the school with weapons drawn, while ambulances and rescue services swarmed the area.
Police rushed to the scene around 12.30pm on Tuesday following reports of an attacker firing an automatic weapon, and a major emergency response was launched.
The shooter turned the gun on himself at the scene before he could be stopped, police chief Roberto Eid Forest added.
HEROIC ACT
Among the tragedy from Tuesday’s shocking mass shooting, a brave student stepped forward to help.
Marwa – a trainee nurse – showed incredible courage when she provided first aid to those pierced by bullets.
She told Swedish broadcaster TV4 News: “We heard screams and saw people running away, but there was no alarm.”
Marwa added: “When we opened the door and came out, we saw that someone was shooting everywhere.
“A man next to me was shot in the shoulder. There was blood everywhere.”
The trainee nurse said she saw three unconscious people on the ground and grabbed her friends scarf to help stop one of the victims bleeding.
She added: “All my clothes were covered in blood. School was our safe place – now I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go back.”
