STOCKHOLM – A man armed with an ax attacked and injured eight people in a town in southern Sweden on Wednesday before he was shot and arrested, police said. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said a possible terrorist motive is being investigated.
“In light of what has emerged so far in the police investigation, prosecutors have initiated a preliminary investigation into terrorist crimes,” he said, but gave no further details.
Shortly after his statement, investigators at a police press conference said they had initiated a preliminary investigation into attempted murder, with details “that make us investigate any terrorist motives”.
“But at the moment I cannot go into details,” said the head of regional police, Malena Grann. Police said the man, who is in his 20s, attacked people in the small town of Vetlanda, about 118 kilometers southeast of Goteborg, Sweden’s second largest city. His reason was not immediately known.
The man was shot by the police, who said that the conditions of the attacked and the aggressor were not immediately known. Authorities did not provide the identity of the suspect, who was taken to a hospital.
Local police chief Jonas Lindell said “it appears that the injuries are not fatal”, but was unable to give further details. The events took place in central Vetlanda, with police saying they had received calls about a man assaulting people with an ax.
Lofven condemned “this terrible act” and added that Sweden’s internal security agency, SAPO, was also working on the case. “They continually assess whether there are reasons for taking security improvement measures and are prepared to do so, if necessary,” he said in a statement.