The day after what is described as the worst mass shooting in Swedish history, Tuesday's events at Campus Risbergska in Örebro are still difficult to comprehend.
I read an article about it just now, but I can't grasp that I was part of it. I'm still in shock, says the teacher, who prefers to remain anonymous.
It's so horrific. Right outside the room where we barricaded ourselves, there were several dead bodies.
"Vibrated in the wall"
Shortly after 12:30 pm, the teacher, along with about ten colleagues, was in the small lunchroom when sudden bangs were heard in a nearby classroom. The teacher initially wondered if a fight had broken out.
The wall between the lunchroom and the classroom where the shooting took place vibrated. But it didn't sound like shots, so I thought they were having a disaster drill, since they're going to be nurse assistants.
It wasn't long before both the teacher and colleagues realized the situation was very serious.
We barricaded ourselves in. One of my colleagues called 112, and then we sat quietly and whispered. Almost the entire time, there was a fire alarm blaring. It just thundered in the small room.
"Then I break down"
At the same time, the teacher describes a sense of calm that was broken only several hours later when the police arrived to evacuate around 3 pm.
We heard the special response team coming down the corridor, shouting that it was the police. They smashed in the door, and when we were about to leave, the police told us to close our eyes. We walked through a long corridor, and there was so much blood. Then I break down, says the teacher.
On Wednesday, crisis support will be offered to the teacher and colleagues. Family and friends have also been a great support after the school shooting.
It's clear it will take time to process. But I'm alive, and now is now, and then is then, says the teacher.
