2015 Trollhättan school attack

School attack in Trollhättan, Sweden January 2020 May 2025 Skolattacken i Trollhättan sv Trollhättan school attack Trollhättan attack.jpg CCTV still of the perpetrator Kronan School, Trollhättan, Sweden 10:16 a.m. UTC+2 Immigrant students and teachers 58.2691 12.3055 region:SE_type:event it y 2015 10 22 10:06 a.m. Mass stabbing, School stabbing 4 (including the perpetrator) 2 Anton Niclas Lundin Pettersson * Cold Steel Viking sword Tantō knife (unused) Xenophobia, suicidal ideation On 22 October 2015, a mass stabbing occurred at Kronan Primary School (Kronans grundskola)Despite literally translating to "primary school" or "elementary school", in Sweden, a grundskola offers schooling from grades one through nine, similar to a K-8 school. in Trollhättan, Sweden. 21-year-old Anton Lundin Pettersson killed three people and wounded another two with a sword, later dying from gunshot wounds sustained after charging police. The initial police investigation concluded that Pettersson was motivated by opposition to immigration and had chosen the school as his target due to its location in a neighbourhood with a high immigrant population. Background The city of Trollhättan has a history of previous hate crimes, including an arson attack at a mosque in the 1990s. It has been described as the most ethnically segregated city in Sweden.Crouch David 2015-10-23 Swedish police say school attack was racist, as refugee rules tightened The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/23/swedish-police-treat-school-attack-as-racist-as-government-plans-to-stem-refugees live 2015-10-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20171014040721/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/23/swedish-police-treat-school-attack-as-racist-as-government-plans-to-stem-refugees 2017-10-14 0261-3077 Stabbing Pettersson entered Kronan at 10:06, wearing black clothing, a cape, a Stahlhelm-style helmet and a paintball mask. At first, eyewitnesses believed Pettersson's presence to be a Halloween prank.Thomas Jamie Vinograd Cassandra 2015-10-22 Sword Attack at Kronan School in Trollhattan Kills Teacher, Wounds 3 en-US NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/sword-attack-kronan-school-trollhattan-injures-4-students-adult-n449016 live 2015-10-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20151022093159/http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/sword-attack-kronan-school-trollhattan-injures-4-students-adult-n449016 2015-10-22 Media outlets compared Pettersson's appearance to the appearance of Darth Vader, a fictional character in the film franchise Star Wars.Halkon Ruth 2016-03-08 Chilling footage shows 'Darth Vader' striding though Swedish school corridors http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/darth-vader-killer-seen-chilling-7518459 2022-12-25 Mirror en-GB Matharu Hardeep 2015-10-23 Swedish school killer shouted 'I am your father' during attack https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sweden-school-attack-silent-killer-was-driven-by-racist-motives-say-police-a6705286.html 2022-12-25 The Independent en-GB Miller Michael E. Murphy Brian 2015-10-23 The terrifying sword-wielding man in Darth Vader-esque mask who attacked Swedish school, killing 2 en-US The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/23/the-terrifying-sword-wielding-man-in-darth-vader-mask-who-attacked-swedish-school-2-dead/ 2022-12-25 20-year-old teaching assistant Lavin Eskandar, an ethnic Feyli Kurd,2015-10-23 Kurdish victim who tried to stop Sweden school shooting praised as ’hero’ https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/231020151 2024-12-31 Rudaw met Pettersson, who immediately stabbed him. Eskandar died at the scene.2015-10-23 Kurdish teacher, student killed in stabbing attack on Swedish school en Ekurd Daily http://ekurd.net/kurdish-teacher-killed-in-sweden-2015-10-23 live 2016-01-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20151208182957/http://ekurd.net/kurdish-teacher-killed-in-sweden-2015-10-23 2015-12-08 2015-10-23 Kurdish victim who tried to stop Sweden school shooting praised en Rudaw http://rudaw.net/english/world/231020151 live 2016-01-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20160118144517/http://rudaw.net/english/world/231020151 2016-01-18 Taylor Adam 2015-10-24 Swedish school worker killed trying to protect students in racial attack hailed as hero en-US The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/10/24/swedish-school-worker-killed-trying-to-protect-students-in-racial-attack-hailed-as-hero/ live subscription 2016-01-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20160107233759/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/10/24/swedish-school-worker-killed-trying-to-protect-students-in-racial-attack-hailed-as-hero/ 2016-01-07 2015-10-23 Så hyllar världen Lavin Eskandar för hans stora hjältemod på skolan. sv How the world celebrates Lavin Eskandar for his great heroism at school. Newsner http://www.newsner.com/2015/10/saa-hyllar-vaerlden-lavin-eskandar-foer-hans-stora-hjaeltemod-paa-skolan/ live 2016-01-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20151229075837/http://www.newsner.com/2015/10/saa-hyllar-vaerlden-lavin-eskandar-foer-hans-stora-hjaeltemod-paa-skolan/ 2015-12-29 When 14-year-old student David Issa yelled "What the hell are you doing?" Pettersson hit him with the ricasso of the sword,2016-10-22 Nödropet vid skolmassakern: "Vi behöver alla poliser i världen här" https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/kaekaX 2025-10-05 www.aftonbladet.se sv The desperate plea during the school massacre: "We need every police officer in the world here" lightly injuring him.2016-10-22 Mördande propaganda https://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/a/l1edgo/mordande-propaganda 2024-12-31 www.aftonbladet.se sv Murderous propaganda Pettersson then stabbed a 15-year old Somali student, Ahmed Hassan, who died from his injuries later in the hospital, and 15-year-old Syrian student Wahed Kosa, who survived his injuries. 2020-10-22 Skolmördaren högg Wahed med svärd: "Jag kommer aldrig att glömma" https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vast/wahed-kosa-overlevde-jag-kommer-aldrig-att-glomma 2024-11-19 SVT Nyheter sv The school killer struck Wahed with a sword: "I will never forget" Whilst wandering the halls, two students encountered Pettersson and, believing his presence to be a Halloween prank, posed with him and took a picture. Niclas Hallgren, the city's police chief, said that Pettersson spared them due to them having white skin.Stenquist Victor 2015-12-04 Läraren död efter attacken i Trollhättan Swedish Teacher dead after attack in Trollhättan Aftonbladet http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21882221.ab live 2015-12-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20151206001358/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21882221.ab 2015-12-06Wikström Sanna Salihu Diamant Berntsson Jonathan Olsson Daniel 2015-12-04 Tredje offret död efter skolattacken sv Third victim dead after school attack Expressen http://www.expressen.se/gt/tredje-offret-dod-efter-skolattacken/ live 2015-12-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20151204061532/http://www.expressen.se/gt/tredje-offret-dod-efter-skolattacken/ 2015-12-04 Shortly after, a 42-year-old teacher, Nazir Amso, confronted Pettersson and demanded he remove his mask. Petterson then charged at Amso and stabbed him. Amso died of his injuries six weeks later in hospital on 3 December. Police officers arrived at the scene shortly before 10:16, ten minutes after Petterson entered the school. Pettersson reportedly charged at police and was shot once in the abdomen, later dying from his injuries in hospital.2015-10-22 Sweden sword attack: Two killed by masked attacker en-GB BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34602621 live 2015-10-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20151022182236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34602621 2015-10-222015-10-22 Tre dödsoffer: Vuxen, elev och gärningsman sv Three deaths: adult, student and perpetrator Svenska Dagbladet http://www.svd.se/flera-skadade-pa-skola-i-trollhattan live subscription 2015-10-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20151025011159/http://www.svd.se/flera-skadade-pa-skola-i-trollhattan 2015-10-252015-10-22 Sweden sword attack: Two dead after masked attacker strikes en-GB BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34602621 live 2015-10-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20151022182236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34602621 2015-10-22 During the attack, Pettersson played the song "Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Remix)" by Rob Zombie on loop.Glaser Matilda Svensson 2018 Ideology or psychology? https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1217438/FULLTEXT02.pdf Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet Stockholm University Apart from his sword, he carried with him a tantō knife as a backup weapon, which was unused in the attack. Perpetrator Anton Niclas Lundin PetterssonThe family name is Lundin Pettersson, not Pettersson. (22 June 199422 October 2015)Barth-Heyerdahl Lars Treborg Ingrid Kirkerud Kaja Johannessen Kjersti Moltubak Roar Dalmo 2015-10-22 Svenske medier: Anton Lundin Pettersson (21) drepte to personer med sverd Swedish media: Anton Lundin Pettersson (21) killed two people with a sword http://www.tv2.no/a/7535012 registration live https://web.archive.org/web/20160527071724/http://www.tv2.no/a/7535012/ 2016-05-27 2015-10-22 TV 2 no was identified as the attacker by Expressen.El-Mochantaf Christer Nilsson Gustaf Olsson Daniel Berntsson Jonathan 2015-10-22 Anton Lundin Pettersson mördade två i skolan Anton Lundin Pettersson murdered two at school http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/anton-lundin-pettersson-mordade-tva-i-skolan/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20151022203306/http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/anton-lundin-pettersson-mordade-tva-i-skolan/ 2015-10-22 2015-10-22 Expressen sv Pettersson had no criminal record and was not a member of any political organisation, but had supported a petition by the Sweden Democrats to initiate a referendum on immigration. According to Aftonbladet, Pettersson had visited far-right and extremist websites supporting Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany and had also joined a Facebook group that opposed immigration to Sweden.Tagesson Eric Granlund John Nordström Isabelle Svahn Niklas 2015-10-22 Anton, 21, misstänks för morden på skolan Anton, 21, suspected of the school murders http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/krim/article21630173.ab live https://web.archive.org/web/20151023105336/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/krim/article21630173.ab 2015-10-23 2015-10-22 Aftonbladet sv The Swedish Security Service was called in to investigate these findings. Pettersson lived in an apartment building far away from Kronan but chose to attack the school due to it being in Kronogården, a town with a high immigrant population; police cited this as more evidence towards his motive. Former classmates described Pettersson as a lonely person who "lived in his own world" and dressed in black clothing influenced by the emo or rock scene. There is strong evidence to suggest he had autism spectrum disorder, although his parents did not want him diagnosed. He often avoided eye contact, had difficulty understanding other people, and was characterized as being physically rigid and stubborn. One pediatrician who studied the case posthumously diagnosed him as such. Bjørn Ihler, a survivor of the 2011 Norway attacks, wrote in The Guardian that in 2013, Pettersson had liked a YouTube video of former Ku Klux Klan leader Johnny Lee Clary testifying how a positive experience with a black man had caused him to disavow his previously-held racist beliefs.Ihler Bjørn 2015-10-23 The Trollhättan killer didn't become an extremist overnight. Somebody could have stopped him https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/23/trollhattan-killer-extremist-anders-behring-breivik live https://web.archive.org/web/20151024170217/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/23/trollhattan-killer-extremist-anders-behring-breivik 2015-10-24 2015-10-25 The Guardian en-GB He was also said to have interacted with online content that demeaned women and religious people. Self-harm scars were found on his arms, and it was later revealed that he had completed an online test for depression, along with watching videos of people committing suicide. He had saved material surrounding hopelessness, being misunderstood, self-hatred, violence, and death, along with material suggesting he was uncertain about his sexual identity.Erlandsson Åsa Meloy J. Reid November 2018 The Swedish School Attack in Trollhättan https://drreidmeloy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Swedish-School-Attack-in-Trollhattan.pdf Journal of Forensic Sciences en 63 6 1917–1927 10.1111/1556-4029.13800 0022-1198 29684937 Pettersson allegedly took inspiration from the Columbine High School massacre, notably in wearing a trench coat.Han är lik en av förövarna i Columbine https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/han-ar-lik-en-av-forovarna-i-columbine/ Dagens Nyheter 2016-03-08 sv 2026-06-27 He resembles one of the perpetrators at ColumbineHolmberg Svante Skolattackerna är sociala fenomen https://www.vilarare.se/nyheter/debatt/skolattackerna-ar-sociala-fenomen/ Vi Lärare 2022-06-14 sv Debattartikel 2026-06-27 School attacks are social phenomena A day before his attack, he watched a video collage of military footage starring Nazis during World War II, along with the song When Evil Speaks by Belgian electro-industrial group Suicide Commando. 2015-10-23 Nazi Sympathiser Kills Two in Sword Attack at Swedish School https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2015/Oct/23/nazi-sympathiser-kills-two-in-sword-attack-at-swedish-school-833182.html 2025-02-22 The New Indian Express Less than an hour before the killings, he sent a message to one of his online friends, a 25-year-old Dutch man, stating that he would "be dead in the next hour or two" and called him the best friend he ever had. He also declared that he hated himself and stated that he wanted responding officers to shoot him dead in an attempt of suicide by cop. Aftermath and reactions thumb|Gathering at Medborgarplatsen to honor the victims of the attack a week after. On the morning of 23 October, a day after the attack, Swedish police and media confirmed that the attack had "racist motives" and that it was a "hate crime".Andersson Sofia Roström Hagberg Sebastian Andersson Jakob Nordström Isabelle 2015-10-23 Han marscherade som en militär sv He marched like a soldier Aftonbladet http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21633831.ab live 2015-10-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20170730065518/http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21633831.ab 2017-07-30 Niclas Hallgren, the city's police chief, stated that all of the victims of the attack were "dark-skinned". Head of Investigation, Thord Haraldsson said that CCTV footage showed that Pettersson spared the lives of students with white skin. The initial police investigation concluded that Pettersson was motivated by opposition to immigration and had chosen the school as his target due to its location in a neighbourhood with a high immigrant population. After the news of the attack, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven travelled to Trollhättan, calling it a "black day" for the country. Minister for Integration Anders Ygeman wrote on Twitter: "It is with sadness and dismay I received the news of the attack on the school in Trollhättan. My thoughts go to the victims and their families". King Carl XVI Gustaf said that the royal family received the news "with great dismay and sadness".Perry Dave 2015-10-22 UPDATE: Sweden's king: Country 'in shock' after attacks en-US Aurora Sentinel https://sentinelcolorado.com/nation-world/update-swedens-king-country-shock-attacks/ live 2015-10-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20151208115857/http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/update-swedens-king-country-shock-attacks/ 2015-12-08 During the days leading up to Halloween, there were reports of people wearing suspicious outfits or brandishing weapons, which were discovered to be people celebrating Halloween. The police warned the public not to carry imitation weapons with their Halloween costumes, to avoid potentially dangerous misunderstandings.2015-10-23 Swedish police: don't wear Halloween masks en The Local http://www.thelocal.se/20151023/police-say-school-sword-attack-was-racist live 2015-10-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20151024164237/http://www.thelocal.se/20151023/police-say-school-sword-attack-was-racist 2015-10-24 Kronan school remained closed until 2 November, when it reopened with higher security.2015-11-02 Trollhättan pupils return after fatal school attack The Local http://www.thelocal.se/20151102/trollhttan-pupils-return-after-fatal-school-attack live 2015-11-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20151103181058/http://www.thelocal.se/20151102/trollhttan-pupils-return-after-fatal-school-attack 2015-11-03 On 29 September 2017, a book about the attack was published, Det som aldrig fick ske sv (What Was Never Supposed To Happen). The book contained information about the attack previously unavailable to the public, including a message Pettersson sent to an online friend before the attack that the Pettersson family did not know about. The author, Åsa Erlandsson sv, spoke to the brother of Pettersson.Rapp Johanna 2017-09-26 Anton Lundin Petterssons bror berättar nu om tiden före dådet sv Anton Lundin Pettersson's brother talks about the time before the attack Aftonbladet https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/bEEEv live 2019-08-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20190822045939/https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/bEEEv 2019-08-22 Erlandsson won the Stora Journalistpriset for the book.Det som aldrig fick ske: Pristagare år 2017 i kategorin Årets Berättare: Åsa Erlandsson What Was Never Allowed To Happen: Winner of the 2017 Narrator of the Year award: Åsa Erlandsson https://www.storajournalistpriset.se/timeline/2017/pristagare-2017/arets-berattare1/Det-som-aldrig-fick-ske/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20190822045940/https://www.storajournalistpriset.se/timeline/2017/pristagare-2017/arets-berattare1/Det-som-aldrig-fick-ske/ 2019-08-22 2019-08-22 Stora Journalistpriset sv Copycat attacks On 15 March 2019, two consecutive mass shootings occurred in a terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, where 51 people were killed and 40 others were injured. The perpetrator behind the shootings mentioned Pettersson in his manifesto and declared his support for him, in addition to writing Pettersson's name on one of his guns.Clason Sofia 2019-03-15 Hyllade Anders Breivik och Anton Lundin Pettersson sv Praised Anders Breivik and Anton Lundin Pettersson Expressen https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/terroristens-propaganda-spred-manifest-innan-dadet 2019-06-09Kupper Julia 2022-10-17 The Venomous Rhetorical Web of Far-Right Terrorists https://gnet-research.org/2022/10/17/the-venomous-rhetorical-web-of-far-right-terrorists/ 2023-10-13 Global Network on Extremism and Technology en-GB On 10 June 2015, a 16-year-old student armed with a sword and knife attempted to commit a mass stabbing at Neelin High School, in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, injuring a 15-year-old Nigerian immigrant student in the process. After the school went into lockdown and students barricaded themselves in classroom, the suspect, who asked for police to fatally shoot him, was tased and subdued. On his phone were thousands of images and videos relating to Nazism, weapons, and school attacks, and he admitted to investigators he was "inspired" by the Trollhättan attack. During the stabbing, he wore a black trench coat and mask, similar to Pettersson's.Adamski Tessa 2026-10-08 Youth acted on ‘mass murder suicide plan’ https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2026/10/08/youth-acted-on-mass-murder-suicide-plan 2026-10-15 Brandon Sun en-US On 21 August 2026, an 18-year-old man armed with a sword entered Brinellskolan, a school in Fagersta, Västmanland County, Sweden. The attack left one person dead and three others injured.One killed, three injured in sword attack at school in Sweden https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/21/several-people-injured-in-sword-attack-at-swedish-school 2026-08-21 Al Jazeera 2026-08-21Thornéus Gustaf Hällsten Amanda Aprea Matilda 2026-08-21 Kusliga likheten – var klädd som skolmördaren https://www.aftonbladet.se/a/7pyG73 2026-08-22 Aftonbladet sv Eerie resemblance – was dressed like the school shooter According to Aftonbladet, the suspect wore black clothing, a helmet, and a face covering. Some reports compared his clothing to that worn by Pettersson.Sweden See also List of school attacks in Sweden 2019 Kuopio college stabbing 2026 Fagersta school attack Notes References Further reading Erlandsson Åsa Meloy J. Reid November 2018 The Swedish School Attack in Trollhättan https://drreidmeloy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/The-Swedish-School-Attack-in-Trollhattan.pdf Journal of Forensic Sciences en 63 6 1917–1927 10.1111/1556-4029.13800 29684937 0022-1198 Erlandsson Åsa Det som aldrig fick ske: Skolattentatet i Trollhättan 2017-09-26 Norstedts 9789113077321 sv What Should Never Have Happened: The School Attack in Trollhättan Category:Deaths by stabbing in Sweden Category:Mass stabbings in Europe Category:October 2015 in Europe Category:October 2015 crimes in Europe Category:Anti-Muslim violence in Europe Category:Neo-Nazism in Sweden Category:School stabbings in Sweden Category:Stabbing attacks in 2015 Category:Trollhättan Category:2015 murders in Sweden Category:Incidents of violence against boys Category:Racially motivated violence in Europe Category:Sword attacks in Europe Category:2015 mass murders Category:21st-century mass murders in Sweden Category:Terrorist incidents in Sweden in the 2010s Category:Anti-immigration politics in Europe Category:Terrorist incidents in Europe in 2015 Category:Attacks on schools in 2015 Category:21st century in Västra Götaland County Category:Child murder in Sweden Category:Columbine High School massacre copycat crimes Category:Neo-fascist terrorist incidents in the 2010s