UPDATE 2 - 5 people shot at education center in central Sweden

ADDS DETAILS, PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Five people have been shot at an education center in central Sweden with a search in the school premises ongoing, police confirmed Tuesday.

A large police operation is underway at the Campus Risbergska school in Orebro, a city 200 kilometers (124 miles) west of Stockholm, the SVT broadcaster reported.

The shooting took place at around 12.33 p.m. local time (1133GMT), targeting the center which is believed to be an education center that is attended by those who have not finished primary or secondary school.

According to police, the shooting is currently viewed as "an attempted murder, arson and aggravated weapons offence."

Meanwhile, students at nearby schools have been kept indoors "for security reasons," said police.

Rescue services and ambulances are also on the scene and the extent of the injuries is unclear.

Police said at a news conference that five people were taken to hospital while four underwent surgery, two of them are critically injured.

A police spokesperson did not rule out further perpetrators while a search of school premises is underway.

Roberto Eid Forest, head of the local police area in Orebro, confirmed that one of the injured is the suspected perpetrator.

The Swedish TT agency reported that several schools have been cordoned off in connection with the shooting.

- 'Terrible act of violence'

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the shooting as a "terrible act of violence," adding that it was a very painful day for Sweden.

"My thoughts are also with all those whose regular school day was replaced with horror," he wrote on X.

Kristersson said his government is in close contact with the Swedish Police Authority and is closely following the developments.​​​​​​​