2026 Fagersta school stabbing
Mass stabbing in Fagersta, Sweden
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On 21 August 2026, a mass stabbing occurred at Brinell school (Brinellskolan) in Fagersta, Västmanland County, Sweden, an 18-year-old student armed with a sword entered the school and attacked multiple people. Swedish police responded by shooting towards the suspect and then detaining him. The motive behind the attack is currently unknown.[2]
Brinellskolan School, Fagersta Municipality, Sweden
| Fagersta school stabbing | |
|---|---|
Brinellskolan in 2023 | |
| Location | 60°00′02″N 15°48′13″E Brinellskolan School, Fagersta Municipality, Sweden |
| Date | 21 August 2026 |
Attack type | |
| Weapon | Longsword |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injured | 4 (including the perpetrator)[1] |
| Perpetrator | Unnamed 18-year-old male |
| Defenders | Swedish Police Authority |
| Motive | Under investigation |
Background
Brinellskolan is a secondary school in Fagersta. The municipality's academic calendar shows that the 2026–27 autumn term had begun only a few days before the attack, on 17 August for first-year students and 19 August for students in years two and three.[3]
The school had previously been evacuated following a threat of a shooting in May 2026, according to contemporary reporting, although no connection between that incident and the August attack had been established.[4][5]
Attack
On 21 August 2026, an 18-year-old man armed with a sword entered Brinellskolan, a school in Fagersta, Västmanland County, Sweden. The attack left a 17-year-old girl dead and three others injured, two in serious condition.[6][7] The attack was filmed by the perpetrator.[8] Ten minutes after the first alarm, the perpetrator was arrested by police.[8] Gunshots were fired during the attack.[1][9]
Aftermath
Several schools and public facilities in Fagersta were temporarily placed under lockdown as a precaution while police searched the area. The restrictions were subsequently lifted.[10] The Fagersta city government set up a crisis center near the school. The Västmanland County government said that police, fire services, and healthcare workers were caring for anyone affected by the stabbing.[11]
Perpetrator
The suspect has been identified as an 18-year-old male who attended the school.[12] Swedish police searched two properties connected to the suspect in the hours following the attack.[11] The suspect had a TikTok account where he allegedly posted an image of a "sword-like object." The account was taken down shortly after.[13]
According to Aftonbladet, the suspect wore black clothing, a helmet, and a face covering, allegedly in imitation of Anton Lundin Pettersson, who killed three people during the 2015 Trollhättan school attack.[8] Anton Lundin Petterson was in turn trying to resemble the perpetrators behind the Columbine massacre and his appearance was often compared to Darth Vader in the media.[14]