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Reuters
Reuters
Politics
Anna Ringstrom

Swedish police say motive for deadly school attack still unclear after student arrested

A police officer gives access to an ambulance to the scene of a crime by a school in Malmo, Sweden March 21, 2022. TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson/via REUTERS

A Swedish high school student arrested on suspicion of killing two teachers in the southern city of Malmo on Monday was not previously known to police and his motive was still unclear, the Malmo police chief said on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murdering two women in their 50s at his school in Malmo. Around 50 students were at the school at the time of the attack but nobody else was hurt, according to police.

Police officers and ambulance personnel attend at the scene of a crime by a school in Malmo, Sweden March 21, 2022. TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson/via REUTERS

Malmo's police chief Petra Stenkula said she did not know of any indications so far that the attack was motivated by racism or by religious extremism.

"I haven't heard of anything like that right now. But it can be much too early to say anything about that," she told a news conference.

Swedish daily Aftonbladet reported on Tuesday, not identifying its sources, that the student had attacked the women with a knife and an axe.

Swedish flag is seen at half mast outside Malmo Latin School, the day after two women died from "violence", according to police, in Malmo, Sweden March 22, 2022. TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via REUTERS

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told Swedish news agency TT on Tuesday that she had received the news with "grief and dismay" and that her thoughts were with the victims' families and friends.

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom and Helena Soderpalm, Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

A police officer stands outside Malmo Latin School the day after two women died from "violence", according to police, in Malmo, Sweden March 22, 2022. TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via REUTERS
Flowers are seen outside Malmo Latin School, the day after two women died from "violence", according to police, in Malmo, Sweden March 22, 2022. TT News Agency/Johan Nilsson via REUTERS
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