Wednesday February 12, 2025

Qamar Hilowle, a 38-year-old mother of three, was among the ten victims killed in Sweden’s deadliest school shooting at Campus Risbergska in Örebro.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (HOL) — Qamar Hilowle, a 38-year-old mother of three, was one of ten victims killed in the deadliest school shooting in Sweden’s history. The attack, which took place at Campus Risbergska on February 4, has sent shockwaves across the country and reignited debates about extremism and gun control.

Authorities identified the shooter as 26-year-old Rickard Andersson, a man with documented ties to extremist ideologies. He opened fire at midday, targeting students and staff before being subdued by law enforcement. Most of the victims, including Qamar, were of immigrant background, a fact that has deepened concerns over racial and ideological motivations behind the attack.

Qamar arrived in Sweden 17 years ago, fleeing the violence of Somalia’s civil war. She became a Swedish citizen, embracing her new home as a place of safety and opportunity. She raised her three children—a 15-year-old, an 11-year-old, and a two-year-old—while working toward a career in healthcare.

“She was always kind and caring, always making sure everyone else was okay,” said her younger brother, Ali.

Despite being a single mother, she was known for her generosity and unwavering support for friends and family. Her aunt, Anisa, recalled how she remained cheerful even during the birth of her youngest child.

“She was full of joy, even mischievous at times. Even in the worst labour pains, she managed to joke with the doctor. Qamar was an incredible person and the best mother in the world,” Anisa said.

While many Somali-Swedes have returned to visit their homeland in recent years, Qamar never did. She had an overwhelming fear of weapons and the possibility of being caught in violence again.

“She would have loved to see her parents, but she was terrified of weapons and the thought of being shot,” Anisa explained.

Tragically, her fears materialized in what should have been the safest of places. On her way to lunch, Qamar was caught in the gunfire, becoming one of the many lives lost in a tragedy that has shaken the nation.

“Everything feels unreal, like a terrible nightmare we cannot wake up from,” said Ali.

The attack has prompted calls for tighter gun regulations and an investigation into Andersson’s background, as Sweden grapples with one of the darkest days in its history.

Victims of the Örebro Campus Attack:

• Salim Iskef, 29 (Syria): A care worker studying to become a healthcare professional. He planned to marry in July.
• Bassam al Sheleh, 48 (Syria): A chef known for spreading joy, studying Swedish at the school.
• Qamar, 38 (Somalia): A mother of three, studying Swedish with dreams of becoming a nurse or preschool teacher.
• Elsa Teklay, 32 (Eritrea): A nursing student with ambitions to become a doctor, worked in elderly care.
• Ali Mohammed Jafari, 31 (Afghanistan): A janitor trainee, who lived in Karlskoga, leaves behind a wife and child.
• Niloofar, 46 (Iran): A nursing assistant student, leaves behind a husband, Hossein.
• Aziza, 68 (Iraq/Kurdistan): A longtime math teacher with a YouTube channel of over 120,000 followers.
• Unnamed woman, 52 (Sweden): Lived in Glanshammar, leaves behind a husband and child.
• Unnamed woman, 54 (Sweden): Lived in Örebro, had adult children.
• Unnamed woman, 55 (Sweden): Lived in Örebro, was single.