Sweden: Second suspect arrested in 'Sword Attack' at a high school

Swedish authorities have arrested a second person suspected of involvement in the sword attack that took place last week at a high school, leaving one person dead and three others injured, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The arrest follows the detention on August 21 of a first suspect in the town of Västerås in central Sweden, who was held on charges of murder and attempted murder.

According to court documents reviewed by the Associated Press, the 18-year-old has been identified as Liam Nibbel, a student at the Brynäs High School where the attack occurred. The assault resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl and left three others seriously injured, two of whom are aged 12 and 17.

The Public Prosecutor stated in a press release that the second person arrested “is suspected of being an accomplice to murder and attempted murder in Västerås.” Police initially ruled out the possibility of more than one perpetrator, and the motive behind the attack remains unknown.

Media reports indicate that the investigation includes a TikTok account belonging to the first attacker, which has since been removed. The Associated Press reviewed the account before its deletion; it contained several videos referencing attacks on schools. The most recent update on the account featured an image of a sword.

SVT reported that the attacker had a prior conviction for assault. The channel noted that he wore a helmet and carried a sword during the attack at the school, an incident reminiscent of a 2015 attack in the western Swedish town of Trollhättan, when a 21-year-old man killed three people in a racially motivated assault.