Stockholm – A man armed with an ax attacked and wounded 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 I can’t go into details right now,” said regional police chief Malena Grann.
Police said the man in his 20s attacked people in the small town of Vetlanda, about 118 miles southeast of Goteborg, Sweden’s second largest city. His reason was not immediately known.
TT News Agency / Mikael Fritzon via REUTERS
The man was shot by police, who said 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 the hospital.
Local police chief Jonas Lindell said that “it appears that the injuries are not fatal”, but could not give further details.
The events took place in central Vetlanda, with police saying they received calls Tuesday morning about a man assaulting people with an ax. The police also said that there are five crime scenes in this city of about 13,000 inhabitants.
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 to take measures to increase security and are prepared to do so if necessary,” he said in a statement.