Mourners gather to place flowers and candles outside Risbergska School in Örebro the day after the school shooting, where at least 11 people lost their lives.
A small group gathered at the mosque on Tuesday.
– Since the information about what had happened wasn’t complete at first, and some didn’t fully understand what was being reported, it created anxiety, says Chellig.
– There are people who are alone and have no one to talk to. So when they heard about an attack, some immediately linked it to terrorism. But when you spend time with others and have things explained, it can ease the worry instead of letting your imagination run wild about what might happen.
He adds that even though the attack happened far away geographically, the emotions and sympathy for the innocent victims feel very close.
How will you continue to offer support?
– The mosque is open to anyone who has concerns. There is always someone available to provide comfort or explanations, says Chellig.
The Church of Sweden in Skellefteå has followed the government's request to fly flags at half-mast today. They are also planning to hold a moment of silence.
– We have a school church presence and are active at Campus and in the high schools in Skellefteå. We try to be attentive to any need for support there, says Annika Lundström, acting vicar at Sankt Olovs parish.
She has also sent out internal information encouraging staff in churches that remain open to increase their presence there, if possible.
– When other tragedies have happened, like the attack on Utøya**, the need to come into the church, light a candle, and talk—or just be there—has increased.
What are your thoughts on what has happened?
– It’s incredibly tragic, of course. This is something you don’t expect to happen in Sweden. My thoughts are with those affected and their loved ones, she says.
She adds that moving forward, the church can help create a sense of security in society by being present in different spaces in Skellefteå, not just in schools and churches.
– The church can contribute to a positive community atmosphere through our perspective, she says.
** On July 22, 2011, a far-right extremist carried out a mass shooting at a youth summer camp on the island of Utøya, Norway. He killed 69 people, mostly teenagers, after detonating a bomb in Oslo earlier that day, which killed eight. The perpetrator's attacks were motivated by extreme nationalist and anti-immigrant ideologies.