Four days have passed since ten people have been shot dead inside the Risbergska school in Örebro. It is the biggest mass shooting in Swedish history and many are now asking how Sweden should get through the crisis.
Former Social Democratic Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson has extensive experience in leading Sweden through national disasters and crises.
When Olof Palme was shot dead in Stockholm in 1986, it was Carlsson who after a few days had to take over the work as party leader and head of government. He was also prime minister in connection with the Estonia disaster in 1994, where 501 Swedes were killed. The news of the deed in Örebro caused Carlsson to think back to these events.
During crises, politicians’ most important mission is to show community and create security, he says.
– Democracy must show action. Show that you will react, take action and make sure this does not happen again.
“Open wound”
The suspected perpetrator Rickard Andersson committed suicide after the mass murder, and will therefore never be prosecuted for the act. In addition, there are great ambiguities about the subject, and the police have said that there is a risk that it will never be stated.
Ingvar Carlsson believes that the many question marks about the investigation can make it more difficult to get an end and move on.
– We can take Olof Palme as an example. Because we do not know who the killer was, it is an open wound. It is with me and I think it is so too many.
– It is important to clarify why this happened, because it is an issue that the Swedish people are asking.