2026 Fagersta school stabbing

Fagersta school stabbing
Brinellskolan in 2023
Location60°00′02″N 15°48′13″E / 60.0004993°N 15.8036592°E / 60.0004993; 15.8036592
Brinellskolan, Fagersta, Sweden
Date21 August 2026 (2026-08-21)
c. 2:00 p.m. – 2:19 p.m. (UTC+2)
Attack type
WeaponCold Steel MAA Arming Sword
Deaths1
Injured3[1]
MotiveUnder investigation
AccusedLiam Nebel
ChargesNebel: Murder and several counts of attempted murder
Unnamed boy: Aiding and abetting murder and attempted murder

On 21 August 2026, an 18-year-old student armed with a sword entered Brinellskolan in Fagersta, Sweden, and attacked students inside the school. The suspect, wearing black clothing, a helmet and face covering, wounded several students before being arrested by police. One person was killed and three other students were injured, including two who sustained serious injuries. Schools in Fagersta were temporarily placed under lockdown as police responded to the attack.

The suspect was subsequently identified as Liam Nebel and was investigated on suspicion of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder. Nebel's online activity, reportedly included content associated with the True Crime Community and videos depicting perpetrators of previous mass killings. The attack prompted memorials and political reactions in Sweden, as well as scrutiny of Sweden's newly introduced nationwide mobile phone ban in primary schools. On 24 August, the Swedish government announced the creation of a School Violence Commission in response, while police also arrested another person accused of encouraging the attack and intending to carry out a school attack of his own.

Background

Brinellskolan is a secondary school in Fagersta. The municipality's academic calendar shows that the 2026–27 autumn term had begun only a few days before the attack, on 17 August for first-year students and 19 August for students in years two and three.[2]

The school had previously been evacuated following a threat of a shooting in May 2026, according to contemporary reporting, although no connection between that incident and the August attack had been established.[3][4]

Attack

Prelude

Around 12:00 p.m., two hours before the attack, the suspect reposted a video about bullying on TikTok, the video shows Elliot Rodger, the perpetrator of the Isla Vista attacks in 2014.[5] Later, at 1:41 p.m., the suspect posted a picture of a sword inside of a guitar case,[6] with the text ”No more edits 😔” on TikTok, the image appeared to be taken in the school's restroom.[7] The account was taken down shortly after the attack at the request of police.[8][9][10][11]

Attack begins

According to Aftonbladet, the suspect's clothing was allegedly an imitation of Anton Lundin Pettersson, who killed three people during the 2015 Trollhättan school attack.[8]

An 18-year-old man wearing black clothing, a helmet, and a face covering and armed with a Cold Steel MAA Arming Sword entered Brinellskolan using a key tag.[8][12][13] According to Aftonbladet, the suspect's clothing was allegedly an imitation of Anton Lundin Pettersson (pictured), who killed three people during the 2015 Trollhättan school attack.[8] Before entering the student hall, the suspect wounded his first victim, a boy in the school's stairwell. At around 2:00 p.m., the suspect was seen entering the student hall on the first floor of the school, where approximately 20 students were gathered. He then stabbed his second victim, a 16-year-old boy, in the back, causing the students to panic and flee the scene.[14]

At 2:06 p.m. (UTC+2), police received the first report of ongoing violence at Brinellskolan. During the attack, the suspect exchanged messages with several people on social media and allegedly shared an image depicting blood. The attack was also recorded by the suspect.[8][1][15] Police patrols were dispatched at 2:09 p.m., while nearby schools and preschools were being evacuated. At 2:16 p.m., two police officers opened fire on the suspect but missed, after which he surrendered and was arrested.[16] When the police task force arrived, the deadly violence had already ended.[17] As police investigated, they found a 17-year-old girl dead and three others injured, two in serious condition.[18][19][20]

Victims

A 17-year-old girl was killed in the attack.[21] Three other students were injured, including two boys aged 12 and 17 who sustained serious injuries. A third student sustained minor injuries and was discharged from hospital.[22]

Immediate aftermath and memorial

Several schools and public facilities in Fagersta were temporarily placed under lockdown as a precaution while police searched the area. The restrictions were subsequently lifted.[23] The Fagersta city government set up a crisis center near the school. The Västmanland County government said that police, fire services, and healthcare workers were caring for anyone affected by the stabbing.[24]

Several party leaders cancelled planned speeches ahead of the upcoming 2026 Swedish general election.[7] On the morning after the attack, more than 70 people, including Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, former-Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer, leader of The Liberals Simona Mohamsson and leader of the Centre Party Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist gathered at a memorial site carrying flowers and lighting candles for the victims.[25][26] Due to the attack, flags were put at half-mast throughout Fagersta.[27]

Suspect

According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the suspected attacker has been identified as Liam Nebel (born 2007/2008),[28] an 18-year-old male who attended the school.[29] The suspect's mother left the family when he was seven, leaving the father as his sole parental guardian.[30] The suspect was mentally and physically abused at his original home, due too this he was placed into a foster care.[31] He was forced to participate in martial arts training against his will and was given reduced amounts of food to control his weight and appearance. According to the administrative court the suspect completed his compulsory education but had not received the medicine and trauma treatment providers had deemed necessary.[32] He also has epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures.[30]

In 2025, when the suspect was 17-years-old, he was convicted of assaulting another student at a school in Fagersta. According to court documents, he kicked the student in the stomach, struck him in the upper body and head, and put him in a chokehold. The altercation was reportedly prompted by the other student making derogatory remarks about his family. Due to him being a minor, he was only sentenced to 25 hours of youth service.[32]

One of the symbols used by members of the True Crime Community was found on the suspect's social media account.[33]

Online activity

His social media account, which had more than 3,600 followers before being banned, included content associated with the True Crime Community (TCC), the videos included AI-generated “rampage dance” videos featuring mass murderers accompanied by music and visual effects, often displaying a “–#” indicating the number of victims killed in an attack.[34][35] The videos featured various mass murderers, including Elliot Rodger, Marc Lépine, Nikolas Cruz, Anders Behring Breivik,[7] and Anton Lundin Pettersson, who the suspect showed a particular interest in.[34][35] The suspect's last video, posted five days before the attack, shows an AI-generated video of Anton Lundin Pettersson signing autographs for fans.[36] According to British researcher Joseph Ondrak, the suspect used the Viggle AI application to create such videos. The suspect also reportedly shared content associated with Swedish far-right groups, including the Örebro Party and Alternative for Sweden.[35]

People who had known the suspect reportedly said that he had been introduced to TCC in 2024 and had expressed admiration for perpetrators of school attacks. Some also reported that he had discussed potential targets before the attack.[35]

Investigation

The suspect is under investigation for murder and several counts attempted murder.[37][38] According to the police, there have been at least 150 interrogations with various people including the suspect as of 28 August 2026.[39] In one of the interrogations, the suspect stated he would have liked to kill more people.[40][41] The police are planning to interrogate all 450 people who were at the school during the attack.[42] Police are also investigating if the suspect was involved in communities that promoted school violence.[43] Swedish police searched two properties connected to the suspect in the hours following the attack.[24]

Investigators were investigating how the suspect obtained the weapon used in the attack and sought to determine its exact model. According to Expressen, the weapon may have been an arming sword, possibly a Cold Steel MAA Arming Sword, which had previously been sold in Sweden for €361 (approximately 4,000 Swedish krona) by Flashpoint AB, which operates Tacticalstore.se. Following the incident, the company said it would hold a meeting to consider whether to continue selling sharpened swords.[12]

The suspect's indictment will take place on 21 September 2026.[44]

Reactions

Domestic

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the attack as a "horrific act".[45] King Carl XVI Gustaf said he had received news of the attack "with dismay and sadness".[46] Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer said that the Swedish government was monitoring the situation.[47][48] Several party leaders also cancelled planned speeches ahead of the upcoming 2026 Swedish general election in response to the attack.[7]

Scrutiny of the primary school phone ban

Following the attack, Sweden's newly introduced nationwide mobile phone ban in primary schools came under scrutiny after students at the nearby Risbroskolan, which was evacuated during the attack, had their phones collected in accordance with the policy. Parents reportedly experienced difficulties contacting their children during the incident. Gunnar Strömmer said he understood the frustration among parents and stated that the experiences from the incident should be taken into consideration when evaluating the mobile phone regulations.[49][50]

Creation of the School Violence Commission

In response to the attack, the Swedish government has announced the creation of the School Violence Commission on 24 August 2026. The goal of the commission is to prevent acts of violence at schools, combat online radicalization, and prevent copycat crimes.[50][51][52]

Praising of the attack

Following the attack, images and edits praising the suspect and the attack were circulated online.[35][53] In response, Magdalena Andersson, leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, proposed forming a coalition with other European prime ministers to address the role of large American tech companies in online youth radicalization. The Swedish Social Democratic Party also supports banning social media use for people under the age of 15.[54]

On 24 August 2026, a 16-year-old boy who had communicated with the suspect through encrypted messages was arrested by police in Stockholm, Sweden.[55][56][57] He was suspected of aiding and abetting murder and attempted murder. According to media reports, he had encouraged the suspect to carry out the attack and had expressed plans to carry out a school attack himself.[58][57][59]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kindwall, Hanna (21 August 2026). "Polisen dementerar: Sköt inte gärningsmannen". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Läsårstider förskoleklass, grundskola, anpassad grundskola och gymnasiet 2026–2027". fagersta.se (in Swedish). 18 December 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Torstensson, Ebba (21 August 2026). "Samma skola hotad i maj – elever skickades hem". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Hammarström, Rasmus (8 May 2026). "Klottrat hot på toalett stängde skolor i Fagersta – faran avblåst". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Hamdan, Saga SkovdahlInas (23 August 2026). "Mordmisstänkte Liam Nebels sista tid innan svärdattacken • Skola och Roblox". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2026. At 12 o'clock, i.e. two hours before the attack, Liam Nebel republished a post about bullying on TikTok. The picture shows "incel hero" Elliot Rodger, who murdered six people in Isla Vista, California in 2014.
  6. ↑ "Girl Dies After Sword Attack – 18-Year-Old Liam Named as Suspect - FrihetsNytt". 22 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026. Shortly before the attack, a TikTok post was also published showing a sword lying on a guitar case, along with the text "No more edits".
  7. 1 2 3 4 Badshah, Nadeem (22 August 2026). "Seventeen-year-old girl killed in sword attack at school in Sweden". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 August 2026. For image: The image appeared to have been taken in a restroom at the school, according to the Dagens Nyheter newspaper. For Breivik: Before the image was taken down on Friday, the month-old account contained videos that referred to two episodes of mass violence in Sweden and to the far-right mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Thornéus, Gustaf; Hällsten, Amanda; Aprea, Matilda (21 August 2026). "Kusliga likheten – var klädd som skolmördaren". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Nyheter, S. V. T. (21 August 2026). "Det här vet vi om misstänkta gärningsmannen i Fagersta". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Konto publicerade bild på svärd från skolans toalett – före attacken". DN.se (in Swedish). 21 August 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  11. ↑ Atiyeh, Julia (23 August 2026). "Experten om misstänkta Tiktok-kontot: "Går från idé till handling"". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 August 2026. The same account has previously shared images that can be interpreted as tributes to acts of violence. Shortly after the school in Fagersta, the account was taken down. According to information to SVT, the account is investigated by the police, and was taken down at the request of the police.
  12. 1 2 Svensson, Niklas (25 August 2026). "Vassa svärden säljs till alla: "Inte klokt"". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 August 2026. According to Expressen's experience, it could be a so-called "armament sword" of the type "Cold Steel MAA Arming sword", which was previously sold for 361 euros, corresponding to approximately SEK 4,000, via the Swedish company Flashpoint AB, which runs the site Tacticalstore.se.
  13. ↑ Zangana, Beri; Aprea, Matilda; Thornéus, Ebba (22 August 2026). "18-åringen i förhör – "hade velat döda fler"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Holm, Gusten (24 August 2026). "Skräckminuterna – vittnenas ord inifrån attacken". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Svärdattack på skola i Fagersta – följ SVT:s direktrapport". Sveriges Television.
  16. ↑ Agency, TT News (22 August 2026). "What we know about the school stabbing in Fagersta". Sweden Herald. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Nyanställd polis först på plats efter PDV-larmet i Fagersta". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 26 August 2026. Retrieved 27 August 2026. The officers open fire and Liam Nebel gives up without being hit. Ten minutes after the PDV alarm comes in, the police patrol can announce that Nebel is "combatad". When the police task force arrives, the ongoing deadly violence has long been averted.
  18. ↑ Associated Press (22 August 2026). "Victim of sword attack at Swedish school was a 17-year-old girl". ABC News. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Staff, Al Jazeera. "One killed, three injured in sword attack at school in Sweden". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Agency, TT News (22 August 2026). "17-year-old girl killed in Fagersta school attack, suspect was student". Sweden Herald. Retrieved 23 August 2026. The dead girl was found when police entered the school to secure the premises, but police have not been willing to provide any details about the deceased.
  21. ↑ "Student killed in sword attack at a Swedish school was a 17-year-old girl". AP News. 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Student killed in sword attack at a Swedish school was a 17-year-old girl". AP News. 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "En död i skolattacken i Fagersta". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 21 August 2026. Retrieved 21 August 2026. En person är död efter skoldådet i Fagersta och tre personer är skadade. Polisen sköt mot gärningsmannen tio minuter efter första larmet.
  24. 1 2 español, JAMEY KEATEN Leer en (21 August 2026). "An 18-year-old with a sword attacks a school in Sweden, leaving 1 dead and 2 injured". AP News. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  25. ↑ Heidvall, Text: Tora; Wiman, Sara Schwartz; Holm, Gusten (22 August 2026). "Flera riksdagspartiledare har samlats i Fagersta för att visa sitt stöd efter fredagens skolattack". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "Sword attack at Swedish school kills 17-year-old girl, injures 3 others, police say - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 22 August 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Flaggning på halv stång". fagersta.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  28. ↑ Bengtsson, TextOlle (23 August 2026). "Liam Nebel, 18, häktad misstänkt för skoldådet i Fagersta". DN.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2026. The 18-year-old man [Liam Nebel] was detained on Sunday by the Västmanland district court, the Public Prosecutor's Office announces. He is suspected on probable cause, which is the higher degree of suspicion.
  29. ↑ Thorneus, Ebba (22 August 2026). "Misstänkte gärningsmannen är elev på skolan". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 22 August 2026.
  30. 1 2 Krantz, Katrin (25 August 2026). "Liam Nebels pappa efter skoldådet i Fagersta: "Jag har gjort misstag"". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  31. ↑ Holm, Gusten (23 August 2026). "Här slog polisen till hos Liam Nebel". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2026. Nebel is registered at a different address, where he was previously placed in foster care due to lack of care at home. The police also searched the house there on Friday afternoon.
  32. 1 2 Turner, Isaac (22 August 2026). "Misstänkta 18-åringen i Fagersta: Våld och för lite mat under uppväxten". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  33. ↑ Hamdan, Inas; Heidvall, Tora (22 August 2026). "Misstänkta mördarens hemliga liv på nätet". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026. The blue symbol is the so-called "international planet flag." The TCC symbol has a red stripe across the flag. The image was spread by the 18-year-old suspect.
  34. 1 2 Elfving, Hannes (21 August 2026). "Hyllade massmördare före svärdattacken". Riks (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 Hamdan, Inas; Heidvall, Tora (22 August 2026). "Misstänkta mördarens hemliga liv på nätet". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  36. ↑ Hamdan, Saga SkovdahlInas (23 August 2026). "Mordmisstänkte Liam Nebels sista tid innan svärdattacken • Skola och Roblox". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  37. ↑ "Swedish police probe online networks after teenage girl killed in school sword attack". Reuters. Prosecutors ordered the man's detention on suspicion of murder and several counts of attempted murder.
  38. ↑ "Sword attack at Swedish school kills 17-year-old girl, injures 3 others, police say - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 22 August 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  39. ↑ EXPRESSEN (28 August 2026). "Polisen berättade om utredningen efter dådet". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 August 2026.
  40. ↑ Hamdan, Saga SkovdahlInas (23 August 2026). "Mordmisstänkte Liam Nebels sista tid innan svärdattacken • Skola och Roblox". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  41. ↑ Sirkka, Nadja (22 August 2026). "18-åringen i förhör: "Hade velat döda fler"". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  42. ↑ "Misstänkte gärningsmannen är elev på Brinellskolan". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 21 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  43. ↑ "Swedish police probe online networks linked to sword attack". The Straits Times. 22 August 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  44. ↑ "Prosecutor about the school attack: It will take time to investigate". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 3 February 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026. 18-year-old Liam Nebel was arrested on probable cause on suspicion of murder and attempted murder yesterday. The indictment is set for September 21.
  45. ↑ "Misstänkte mannen lever – lyckligtvis". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). 22 August 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  46. ↑ Gregg, Fergus; wires, Claire Campbell with (21 August 2026). "One dead, several injured after sword attack at Swedish school". ABC News. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  47. ↑ Staff, Al Jazeera. "One killed, three injured in sword attack at school in Sweden". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
  48. ↑ Wiman, Sara Schwartz (22 August 2026). "Kungens ord efter attacken". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  49. ↑ Ekberg, Joakim RydströmKnut Sahlin (22 August 2026). "Strömmer om mobilförbudet i skolan – "förstår föräldrars frustration"". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  50. 1 2 Ekberg, Sara Schwartz WimanKnut Sahlin (24 August 2026). "Government appoints school crime commission". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  51. ↑ "Sweden moves to prevent school attacks after deadly sword assault". euronews. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  52. ↑ Agency, TT News (24 August 2026). "Government appoints school shooting commission after Fagersta attack". Sweden Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  53. ↑ Åkerblom, Tobias Andersson; Granath, Andreas (22 August 2026). "Skolattacken hyllas i sociala medier". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  54. ↑ Rogvall, Filippa (25 August 2026). "Reagerar efter bilderna från dådet: "Avskyvärt"". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  55. ↑ Flovin, Text: Siri; Svanberg, Nina; Israelsson, Linette (27 August 2026). "Tonårspojke häktas efter skolattacken". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  56. ↑ Hedlund, Viktor (26 August 2026). "Uppgifter: Planer på eget skoldåd". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  57. 1 2 Hedlund, Viktor (26 August 2026). "Gripna mannen var inte på plats under dådet". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  58. ↑ Hedlund, Viktor (26 August 2026). "Uppgifter: Planer på eget skoldåd". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  59. ↑ Hällsten, Amanda; Johansson, Anders; Ericson, Agnès; Melin, Erik (26 August 2026). "En till misstänkt för skoldådet i Fagersta". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 August 2026.
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