Sword attacker kills teacher and pupil at Sweden school

Sweden has reacted with shock and horror after a teacher and pupil were stabbed to death in a school with a high number of immigrants by a masked man who was reported to have far-right sympathies.

The man, who posed with students before starting his killing spree, was shot dead by police, the Guardian reports.

Twenty-one-year-old Anton Lundin Pettersson created panic in Trollhattan, an industrial city near Gothenburg, on Thursday as parents and pupils crowded outside Kronan school in the aftermath of the killings among large numbers of police and ambulances.

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven described the stabbings as a black day for Sweden, and was on his way to the city.

He further said, "I am deeply moved and feel great sorrow and I'm here to express my, the government's and the people of Sweden's sorrow and sympathy. We think of the victims, the deceased, and the ones that are now being treated in hospital. We think of their near and dear, their mothers, fathers, siblings and all those who love them and care for them. We think of the class mates, staff and the whole community here in Trollhattan."

"This affects us all - all who send their children and grand children to school, who work there or attend themselves. School is supposed to be the place for learning, play and curiosity and friendship, and therefore, this is a tragedy that affects the whole country. It's a black day for Sweden," he added.

Sweden's King Carl Gustaf said Sweden was "in shock" following the attack and that the royal family received the news "with great dismay and sadness".

A teacher died on the spot, while a 17-year-old died later in hospital from stab wounds.

Two more people, aged 15 and 41, were in a critical condition on Thursday night.

The killings took place in a school with a high proportion of immigrants, raising fears the killer's motives may have been racist.