Sword attack at Sweden school leaves two teenagers with severe injuries

21st August, 2026 | News

Sword Attack at Swedish High School Leaves Several Injured

Several people have been injured after an attacker armed with a sword attacked Brinell High School in Fagersta, Sweden, on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Two teenagers were reportedly taken to hospital with severe injuries following the incident, which prompted a major police response in the town, located northwest of Stockholm.

Police said they received an emergency call at about 2:06 p.m. local time reporting suspected deadly violence at the school. Officers quickly deployed to the scene, where the suspect was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

Swedish media reported that the suspect, believed to be an 18-year-old former student, was carrying a machete and was shot in the leg by police before being detained. Authorities have not yet provided a full account of what led to the attack, and investigations are ongoing. Police have also reportedly searched the suspect’s home as part of the preliminary investigation.

Following the attack, several schools and public buildings across Fagersta were placed under lockdown as a precaution. Police later confirmed that there was no longer any danger to members of the public.

Authorities are examining whether surveillance camera footage from the school and surrounding areas could assist investigators in establishing what happened.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the incident as serious and expressed sympathy for those affected, saying police were working intensively to establish the circumstances behind the attack.

Brinell High School has around 450 students between the ages of 16 and 20.

The incident comes about a year after a deadly school shooting in Örebro, central Sweden, which claimed 10 lives and became the country’s worst mass shooting. The latest attack has once again raised concerns about safety and security in Swedish schools as authorities continue their investigation.