Lost their friends in the mass shooting: "So heartbreaking
They lost their friends in the mass shooting
Beri Zangana,
Christoffer Nilsson
Updated 00.12 | Published 2025-02-05 23.52
ÖREBRO. The next day, the scale sinks in.
On a shelter outside the Risbergska school, an unimaginable sadness rests on a bed of lit candles.
- My close friend since childhood died in there, says Pernilla Carlsson, 52.
Flowers, candles, grief and shock fill the place outside the school
It is the day after.
The day after the worst mass shooting in Swedish history.
The day after the confusion, fear and horror.
The day after the horrific testimonies from inside the corridors and classrooms at Risbergska School.
It is a day to mourn.
Cars are parked on both sides of Hagavägen. Traffic slowly creeps past the memorial site, across the road from the school building.
To get to the small refuge, decorated with flowers and candles, several of the visitors walk in the middle of the road. Motorists crawl behind.
No one honks.
People gather to lay flowers and light candles at the memorial site.
1 / 3Photo: Jerker Ivarsson
– This morning it felt like something was different. The whole city is in mourning. It is so unimaginable that it has even happened in Sweden. And so it happened right here, says Vendela Andersson, 19.
She has laid flowers and lit candles together with her mother and family friend Pernilla Carlsson.
They are crying.
A few hours earlier, they received terrible news.
The childhood friend of Pernilla and Vendela's mother was one of the murderer's victims. They were still close and used to spend time together as a family.
- It's hard to describe the feelings. There's so much sadness, it's hard to take in. It's unreal. We were supposed to see each other in just a few days and have a girls' get-together, says Pernilla Carlsson.
"So many questions"
Vendela Andersson holds her mother.
- Just the fact that someone has passed away and lost their life in an event like this... and it's her mother's best friend. I'm so sad and have so many questions and feelings. And you have to try to support
Pernilla Carlsson describes the news as a second shock.
– The first thing was that it even happened. But we didn't think she would be there yesterday, we didn't even think she could be one of the victims.
The three women hug each other, confirm each other's stories and feelings, with nods and smiles.
“Supporting each other”
– We try to support each other and be there for each other, even though everyone thinks it's so hard. It's difficult and it feels a bit like the whole of Örebro is doing now, you come together and support each other.
Around 70 people are in the area. There is starting to be a shortage of space for more gravestones, so a second memorial site is emerging on the other side of Hagavägen, closer to the school that was cordoned off by the police.
When Khayam Bayazidi, 40, placed his light on the shelter, there was nothing else there. He lives in one of the apartment buildings opposite the school.
He heard the first shots and looked out his window. Saw people fleeing for their lives. He went down and saw the massive police response.
– And then the injured who were taken from there. And finally the dead who were carried out, he says.
At the time he did not know that two of his friends were among the dead, and that another one was injured.
“You are in shock”
– It is terrible. It just should not be allowed to happen in Sweden. It is absolutely terrible. I see his car right now, it is there behind the barriers, he says.
He regrets the grief that everyone who has lost someone in the attack shares today.
– And even if you didn't know anyone who was affected, or were family to someone, you're in shock. You notice it just by going into the grocery store. It's not like before. People are not happy. It's all of Sweden, not just Örebro, he says.
In another part of Örebro, at Folkets Hus in the Vivalla district, which is one of several places that have opened up for people to turn to, Shahlah Ojagh is found.
On a staircase to the entrance to Folkets Hus in Vivalla, several candles are lit along with a message – "support & conversation".
The need to talk has been there throughout the day, says one of the staff.
“A real fighter”
Shahlah Ojagh knew one of those who died in the attack.
– I had a friend who was studying nursing at the school. She also worked on the side and was a real fighter. She tried to integrate herself as much as possible into society, says Shahlah.
Folkets Hus in Vivalla. 1 / 2Photo: Lotte Fernvall
Shahlah, like many others, knows someone who was affected by the attack. Today, she has visited the memorial site, but also talked to her friends about something that has been recurring – grief.
– There are many emotions today, it is a huge sadness.
When Shahlah drove past the school, the emotions came.
“Heartache”
– I was there and there were a lot of people at the memorial site. It hurts so much in the heart and it makes my whole body shiver. You are in a place where so many people died, completely innocent people. Why should it even happen, because of what?
Earlier in the day, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited the memorial site to honor the victims who died in the attack.
– All of Sweden is mourning today, said the king.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar