Swedish sword attack victim was 17-year-old girl, police say

The victim of a deadly sword attack at a high school in central Sweden was a 17-year-old girl, police have confirmed.

Two boys aged 12 and 17 were also seriously injured in the attack at Brinell School in Fagersta on Friday afternoon, according to local authorities, while a third person sustained minor injuries.

An 18-year-old man, who has not been named, was arrested and police said they were treating the case as murder and attempted murder.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson visited the school, where flower tributes have been laid to honour the victims, on Saturday morning.

Students at the school had only just returned to the classroom following the summer break when the deadly attack unfolded on Friday afternoon.

The police later confirmed they fired shots after being called to the scene but did not say whether the alleged attacker was hit before he was detained.

Sweden's public broadcaster reported that the suspect was wearing a helmet. Local media also said he was a former student.

The region went into a state of emergency on Friday, but it had ended by Saturday.