In the midst of a solemn church service in Orebro, Sweden, Syrian Orthodox priest Jacob Kasselia mourned the loss of a beloved member of his congregation following a devastating attack that has been described as the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history.
On Tuesday, the city was rocked by the tragic shooting at an adult learning center, where 10 students were killed, including 29-year-old Salim Iskef, a refugee from Aleppo. The shooter, reported to be local resident Rickard Andersson, took his own life after the rampage.
“He was simply a good man,” Kasselia reflected on Iskef, who had fled Syria with his mother and sister after their father was killed in the war. “He did not look for trouble. He showed only goodwill. He was a member of our community.”
Service attendees were left in shock as details emerged about the victims, many of whom were Syrian and Bosnian. Despite this, local authorities have yet to publicly confirm the identities of the deceased.
Fear and uncertainty grip the community
The aftermath of the shooting has left Orebro’s immigrant communities feeling vulnerable and anxious. Nour Afram, who was inside the school during the incident, expressed her need for more information about the attack and its motives. “We need more information,” she emphasized. “We don’t know why he did it, why did he target this school?”
Afram’s panic during the shooting turned to fear for her children’s safety in school. “For the first time, I am afraid to send my three children to school in Sweden,” she admitted.
Other community members echoed this sentiment, highlighting a growing sense of unease. Zaki Aydin, a Syriac language teacher, noted, “We are foreigners, we have to be careful now… we are closing the doors.”
A community in mourning
As memorial services began, the grief was palpable. Kareen Elia, the fiancée of Salim Iskef, was visibly devastated during a service, prompting emotional support from those around her.
Officials have faced criticism for their handling of the incident, with many residents feeling left in the dark. Academic Tomas Poletti Lundstrom reflected on the societal implications of the attack, stating, “We are living in a very racist time… this is a school for a lot of immigrants.”
At the site of the shooting, mourners gathered, lighting candles and laying flowers in remembrance of the victims. The city’s mayor, John Johansson, expressed the community’s need for answers, emphasizing the importance of transparency as they seek to make sense of the tragedy.
As investigations continue, residents are left grappling with a profound sense of loss and the urgent need for clarity surrounding the motives behind this horrific act.