At least five people shot at Swedish school 'with automatic weapon' as police warn of 'deadly violence'

"Listen to the police officers at the scene," a police statement read shortly before 12.30 UK time. "The operation concerns threats of deadly violence. The operation is still ongoing."

A later statement confirmed: "There has been a shooting at the school. Four people have been shot. The extent of the injuries is unclear. The operation is still ongoing.

"The charges are currently attempted murder, arson and an aggravated weapons offence."

That number has since been raised to five - while police also denied local reports that officers had been shot.

Footage from the scene showed a number of armed police and emergency services amassed outside the junior part of the school.

The shooting took place in a campus area which includes several schools for both children and adults.

A regional authority spokesman said: "We have received four patients but cannot say anything about the condition of the injured, but they were admitted to the emergency room at Orebro University Hospital."

MORE FROM SWEDEN:

• Sweden’s ‘completely and utterly broken society’ serves warning to Britain as investigation lifts lid on crime wave
• Man who repeatedly burnt the Koran shot dead on livestream just one day before his trial
• Sweden introduces tough new citizenship rules for migrants who need to demonstrate they respect Western values and society

At around 2.30pm UK time, police told reporters: "We suspect one of the people in the hospital is the perpetrator. We are continuing to search the school and are focusing on security work - which we have done during the day as well.

"We housed students and staff at several schools because we did not really know the perpetrator or the perpetrators' next steps and whether there were more attacks in the works.

"Now we no longer believe that and have begun an evacuation. However, we do not want the public or other people at the scene, the operation is still ongoing."

"We can't go out, it's dangerous for us. We've heard several shots outside," one person told Swedish outlet Aftonbladet.

Another, said to be a friend of a teacher at the school, said he received a text saying "that there was shooting with automatic weapons at the school and that they had taken shelter in a room".

"Then he wrote that he loved me," they told the newspaper.

Sweden's justice minister Gunnar Strommer said: "The information about violent acts in Orebro is very serious. The police are on site and the operation is in full swing.

"The government is in close contact with the police and is following developments closely."

As the afternoon went on, police insisted that the danger "is not over", adding: "The public MUST continue to stay away from Vasthaga."

Then, a selection of Swedish politicians joined Strommer in speaking out - with many offering condolences to those at the school.

Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar wrote on social media: "Shocked by the terrible news from Orebro. My heart goes out to those affected, to teachers, students and blue light personnel.

"The violence our country is going through is an abyss we must find our way out of together."

While Green Party spokesman Daniel Hellden said: "Terrible what we are being told from Orebro. My thoughts go out to everyone who is affected: students, staff, relatives.

"It is unacceptable that this is happening and that the violence is spreading more and more."