TikTok's Silence Raises Questions Over Fagersta School Attack Account

A TikTok account linked to Liam Nebel, the 18-year-old who attacked Brinellskolan in Fagersta, was active for just over a month before the tragic incident on Friday. The account contained posts glorifying previous school shootings and terror attacks, including Anders Behring Breivik's 2011 massacre in Norway, and even posted an image of a sword with the caption "No more edits" shortly before the attack. Despite these alarming signs, TikTok did not intervene until after the attack, when the account was swiftly shut down. However, the content had already been copied and spread by others on the platform.

Dagens Nyheter sought answers from TikTok representatives about whether the account violated community guidelines and why no prior action was taken, but the company declined to comment on individual cases. Instead, TikTok referred to its general policies on violent groups and shocking content. This lack of transparency follows a pattern, as TikTok has previously failed to respond to media inquiries regarding extremist content on its platform, including far-right propaganda exploiting Swedish celebrities.

Meanwhile, at Brinellskolan, students are grappling with trauma. They marked the first day back after the attack by dressing in black to mourn the girl who was killed and two boys who were seriously injured. The attack left students visibly shocked, gathering at a crisis center rather than attending classes.

The incident highlights enduring concerns about TikTok's role in monitoring and addressing extremist content, especially when linked to tragic real-world violence. Questions remain about the platform's accountability and responsiveness in this critical case.