A 17-year-old girl was killed and two teenage boys were severely injured when an 18-year-old student armed with a sword attacked Brinellskolan high school in Fagersta, central Sweden, on Friday. The suspect, Liam Nebel, was taken into custody and charged with murder on Sunday, authorities confirmed.
Police reported that the attacker was shot in the leg during the confrontation and is now in police custody. Emergency responders, including ambulances and a police helicopter, were deployed to the scene as authorities locked down nearby facilities as a precaution.
Key developments:
- The victim was identified as a 17-year-old female student found deceased inside the school.
- Two male students, ages 16 and 17, remain hospitalized in critical condition, while a third injured student has been discharged.
- Nebel, an enrolled student at Brinellskolan, used an access card to enter the premises, according to the school’s headmaster.
- Police stated they do not yet know the motive for the attack and found no evidence suggesting additional accomplices.
Investigation details:
Authorities are examining a TikTok account linked to Nebel, which posted a picture of a sword in the school bathroom 20 minutes before the attack. The account had previously shared videos praising mass murderers, including neo-Nazi perpetrator Anders Behring Breivik. Investigators are probing whether online communities may have influenced Nebel’s actions.
Police special forces secured the school following the assault, and forensic teams are conducting a thorough search of the premises. Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT reported a significant emergency response, with roadblocks established to restrict access.
Background and context:
This incident follows a series of violent attacks in Swedish schools and educational facilities in recent years. In February 2025, a 35-year-old man killed 10 people in a mass shooting at an adult education center in Örebro, described as Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting. In March 2022, an 18-year-old student stabbed two teachers to death at a secondary school in Malmö. Another attack in October 2015 in Trollhättan saw a perpetrator kill a pupil and a teacher with a sword.
Local authorities have urged the public to respect police instructions and avoid the area as investigations continue. The municipality of Fagersta, with a population of approximately 12,000, remains under heightened security measures.