Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised. This story contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some readers discretion advised.
On October 22, 2015, one of the most shocking school attacks in Swedish history took place at Kronan primary school in the Kronogården district of Trollhättan. A 21-year-old man, Anton Lundin Pettersson, entered the school wearing a helmet, face mask, and long black coat—resembling Darth Vader.
He was armed with a long sword and a knife. During the attack, which lasted about 20 minutes, two students and a teaching assistant were killed, while several others were seriously injured, including one student who miraculously survived severe wounds.
08:20–08:40: Lundin Pettersson parked his car near the school and entered through a side door. He first attacked a classroom in the middle school section, fatally stabbing 17-year-old Lavin Eskandar (a student of Assyrian descent).
He then moved through the corridors, killing 20-year-old teaching assistant Nazir Amso (of Syrian background) who tried to protect students.
He proceeded to another classroom, injuring several students, including 15-year-old Wahed, who was stabbed multiple times but survived. In total, six people were injured, two severely.
Police were alerted shortly after 08:30. A response team arrived, confronted the attacker in a corridor, and shot him in the leg. Lundin Pettersson fell and later died of his injuries in hospital.
Parts of the attack were captured by the school’s surveillance cameras, footage of which was later released, showing him marching through the building.
Anton Lundin Pettersson was a loner with far-right extremist views. He left a farewell letter at his apartment in Trollhättan, blaming the attack on immigration and society, indirectly referring to the victims as “immigrants.”
He had also sent a private message to a friend online. Pettersson had a history of isolation, racist online expressions, and an interest in violent extremism.
The police classified the attack as a hate crime targeting individuals with non-Swedish appearances—the victims were chosen based on their looks. It was the deadliest school attack in Sweden until the Örebro attack in 2025, which claimed more lives.
At 10:16:39, the police opened fire on Anton Lundin Pettersson.
Society’s Response: Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and the royal family visited Trollhättan shortly after. The victims were buried in a joint ceremony, and the city held memorials. Several municipalities, including Eskilstuna, introduced new safety measures like locked doors, access cards, and crisis drills.
The Swedish Crime Victim Compensation Authority handled claims from 29 affected individuals, with six receiving compensation.
The investigation faced criticism for shortcomings, including from Norwegian prosecutors involved in the Breivik case.
The attack has been documented in books like What Should Never Have Happened (2017) and films/documentaries by SVT and UR, following survivors like Boshra. It also inspired subsequent plots, such as a 16-year-old’s conviction in 2023 for planning a similar attack in Ale, referencing “doing a Trollhättan.”
On X (formerly Twitter), the event is still discussed in relation to new incidents in Trollhättan, such as a knife attack at a high school in February 2025, and broader debates about far-right extremism and school safety. In October 2023, police were called to a Trollhättan school after a student was found with a knife, reviving memories of 2015.
The attack highlights the vulnerability of Swedish schools and the need for preventive work against extremism. For more details, see Wikipedia or SVT’s archives.