Aftonbladet is being criticized for publishing about the mass shooting

In connection with the mass shooting in Örebro, Aftonbladet interviewed the father of the shooter, Rickard Andersson.

Now the newspaper is being criticized for grossly violating good journalistic practice.

– It is the harshest level of criticism, and it was several years since it was last used, says Media Ombudsman Caspar Opitz. Latest news clips from Expressen.

On February 4, Rickard Andersson shot and killed ten people at Campus Risbergska in Örebro and then took his own life. In connection with the incident, Aftonbladet published an interview with the shooter’s father, who was unaware of what had happened.

The publication was widely circulated on social media and was heavily criticized. Shortly afterwards, the newspaper chose to withdraw the article.

Now Aftonbladet is being criticized by the Media Ethics Board, which follows the same line as the Media Ombudsman Caspar Opitz.

– That they grossly violated good journalistic practice is very unusual. It is the harshest level of blame, and it was several years since it was last used, says Opitz.

Ended in a state of shock

One of the complainants was the father himself, who says he went into a state of shock after the phone call.

– Private individuals who find themselves in difficult situations have extra protection in media ethics, and the father was in a very vulnerable situation. I and the committee believe that this is a violation of his integrity, which is absolutely indefensible, says Opitz.

The complaint also states that the newspaper called a sibling of Rickard Andersson repeatedly, without receiving an answer. The father has had an extremely difficult time thinking about what could have happened if the sibling, who was unaware of the suspicions, had answered.

Aftonbladet’s response

Aftonbladet writes in a response to the Media Ombudsman that there was an urgent news situation at the time of the incident and that they should have made a different publication decision. At the same time, they add that the newspaper’s publisher has apologized.

– Aftonbladet has learned its lesson from this. They depublished the article quite quickly, realized their mistake and have apologized, says Caspar Opitz.