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2017 Stockholm attack
A "sea of flowers" just outside the Åhléns department store in Stockholm the day after the attack.
Åhléns department store2017 Stockholm truck attack (Stockholm)
Location	Norrmalm, Stockholm, Sweden
Coordinates	59°19′57.8″N 018°03′44.2″E / 59.332722°N 18.062278°E / 59.332722; 18.062278
Date	7 April 2017 c. 14:53 Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)
Target	Civilians
Attack type	Vehicle-ramming attack
Weapons	Stolen delivery truck
Deaths	4
Injured	15+ (9 serious)

On 7 April 2017 in central Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, a man driving a hijacked delivery truck drove at high speed through crowds along the Drottninggatan pedestrian street before crashing into the front of an Åhléns department store. Four people were killed and more than fifteen pedestrians were injured of whom nine were seriously wounded.

The assault has been labelled an act of terrorism and resulted in the deaths of four people and injury of at least fifteen others. A 39-year-old man from Uzbekistan, was arrested by Swedish police on suspicion of carrying out the attack, while investigation into other involved persons is ongoing.

Attack

The attack took place at around 14:53 local time (12:53 UTC) shortly after a delivery truck was stolen while making a delivery for Spendrups, a major Swedish brewery. The intended shipment was to Adolf Fredriks Kyrkogata in central Stockholm. The driver told police that he had attempted to stop the thief, but was unsuccessful and was injured in the process. Immediately afterwards the truck was driven at speed into a pedestrian street. It traveled about 500 metres (1,600 ft) down Drottninggatan, Stockholm's main shopping street, and collided with numerous pedestrians along the way. It halted when it rammed the exterior of the Åhléns City department store on the corner of Mäster Samuelsgatan and Drottninggatan. The truck caught fire but was quickly extinguished by firefighters. The hijacker jumped out and fled the scene.

The Parliament House and the metro system were locked down in response to the attack, and Stockholm Central Station was evacuated. All trains to and from Stockholm were put on hold, with traffic first resuming later in the evening.

Aftermath

Immediate response

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven offered during a press statement that the motive was terrorism, and that police and security services were dealing with the situation as such. Two days after the attack Löfven said:

I wish today to first address you who grieve someone you've lost or worry for someone who is injured. You should know that all of Sweden is with you. We know that our enemies are these awful murderers – not one-another

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, on behalf of the Royal Family, gave their condolences, stating: "Our hearts go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy, and to their families."

Swedish media focused on those who chose to help the injured, especially a number of medical doctors working in the vicinity who ran to the aid of those needing help. Police from all over Stockholm were called in to assist after the deed, and were greatly lauded for their efforts.

Swedish border controls were reinforced following the attack, and travelers from other countries including Nordic countries were advised by police to bring their passports. Meanwhile, Norwegian police said that officers in the country's largest cities and at Oslo Airport would be armed. On 8 April, a man was arrested and part of the Grønland district of Oslo closed off by police after a "bomb-like" device was found that was later demolished in a controlled explosion. Police patrols were also increased in Finland's capital Helsinki.

The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) did not raise the risk assessment from "level 3", indicating that the risk of a new terror attack remains the same as it has since 2010.

Reactions

Domestic

Tens of thousands planned to gather in Stockholm on the Sunday after the attack (9 April) to show support and solidarity. Participants were motivated by openness and tolerance.

The Saturday immediately following the attack saw many people visiting the site of the attack, putting up flowers and candles for the victims on Sergels Torg and on Drottninggatan, resulting in what was described as a "sea of flowers". A smaller offering of flowers occurred in Sweden's second city Gothenburg, with people leaving flowers at Götaplatsen.

The department store Ahléns had initially decided to open two days after the attack, but received heavy criticism after stating they would be selling smoke-damaged clothing at reduced rates. Ahléns later chose to stay closed for one more day and not to sell any damaged articles.

International

The Eiffel Tower was set dark on the evening of the attack to mourn the losses. Nice, a city which bore witness to a similar but more devastating attack in 2016, raised the Swedish flag at half-mast the day following the attack to show solidarity with the Swedish people.

Responses by the heads of state or foreign ministers of several European countries had been issued by the same evening, with the American public and officials more concerned with the initiation of American bombing of Syria, which began on the same day.

Casualties

Four people died as a result of the attack, including one child. Two of the victims were Swedish, one was British and another was Belgian. At least 15 people were injured, nine of them seriously.

Nina Nelson Follin, chief medical doctor at Karolinska University Hospital, told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter that the hospital was treating "a handful" of people, and that their injuries were "quite serious".

Suspect

Investigation

Swedish police initially published pictures of a man wearing a hooded jacket who they wanted to question in connection with the attack. On the evening of 8 April, a man believed to be the same person was arrested in Märsta, north of Stockholm, on suspicion of "terrorist crimes through murder". The police said that the person arrested had been found "behaving suspiciously with minor injuries" and was believed to have driven the truck.

The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) is heavily involved in the investigation. Säpo had the previous year received some limited information on the suspect, but when followed up on this information, it could not be confirmed.

On 8 April, five more people were detained by police. Three people were detained after a car, the owner of which was linked to the terror suspect, was stopped on Kungsholmen. In a separate raid in the suburb of Vårberg, police entered an apartment where the terror suspect was said to have been just hours before the attack, detaining at least two people. On 9 April, one more suspect was arrested "on suspicion of crimes against national security" according to official documents filed at the Stockholm District Court.

A man with a similar name to the chief suspect was incorrectly implicated online.

Motivation

According to TT, the suspect is said to have been an asylum seeker who had been refused refugee status and had previously come to the attention of Swedish intelligence in connection with money laundering to fund ISIS. On 9 April, the Swedish police chief confirmed that the man had "showed interest for extremist organisations like ISIS". He had been listed for deportation in 2016.

See also

• List of terrorist incidents in April 2017
• List of vehicle-ramming attacks
• Terrorism in Sweden

• 2010s
• Sweden

Notes

1. The strongest level of suspicion for a terror crime under current Swedish law.

References

1. ^ "Four confirmed dead, one arrested over suspected terror attack". Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 7 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
2. CNN, James Masters, Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Ray Sanchez. "Stockholm truck attack kills 4; suspect held on suspicion of terror". CNN. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. Anderson, Christina; Selsoe Sorensen, Martin (7 April 2017). "Stockholm Truck Attack Kills 4; Terrorism Is Suspected". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
4. Keyton, David; Olsen, Jan M. (7 April 2017). "4 killed in Stockholm truck attack described as terrorism". AP News. Retrieved 7 April 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
5. "Swedish store hit by truck regrets 'damaged goods' promotion". Associated Press. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
6. Masters, James; Sanchez, Ray (7 April 2017). "Stockholm truck attack kills 4; arrest made". CNN. Retrieved 7 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
7. "Four confirmed dead, one arrested over suspected terror attack". Sveriges Radio. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
8. "Four confirmed dead, one arrested over suspected terror attack – Radio Sweden". Sveriges Radio. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
9. "Löfven: "Våra fiender är de avskyvärda mördarna"". Omni (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 April 2017.
10. TT. "Löfven: "Våra fiender är de avskyvärda mördarna"". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 April 2017.
11. "Uttalande av H.M. Konungen med anledning av dagens händelse i Stockholm – Sveriges Kungahus". kungahuset.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 April 2017.
12. "Läkaren: "Folk ställde verkligen upp"". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
13. TT. ""Väldigt känslosamt" att flytta blommorna". Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
14. frida.sundkvist@svd.se, Frida Sundkvist. "Här är bilden som sprids över världen". Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 9 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
15. "Norwegian-Swedish border tightened after Stockholm attack". The Local. 8 April 2017.
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17. "Norway police destroy suspect device in Oslo". The Local. Agence France-Presse. 9 April 2017.
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19. "Lastbil in i folkmassa – detta vet vi – DN.SE". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 7 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
20. ^ "Tusentals vill samlas på kärleksmanifestation i Stockholm". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 April 2017.
21. "Så hedrar Sverige offren efter fredagens lastbilsattack". breakit.se. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
22. ^ "Live-rapportering: Offren två svenskar, en britt och en belgare". hbl.fi. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
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25. "Åhléns ber om ursäkt – blir ingen rea – DN.SE". Dagens Nyheter. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
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27. "Svenska flaggan på halv stång i Nice". Aftonbladet (in "sv"). Retrieved 9 April 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
28. "Merkel: Våra tankar är hos befolkningen i Stockholm". Dagens industri. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
29. Israelsson, Monika. "Läkaren: Folk ställde verkligen upp". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
30. "British national among dead in Stockholm lorry attack". itv. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
31. Anderson, Christina; Sorensen, Martin (7 April 2017). "Stockholm Truck Attack Kills 4; Terrorism Is Suspected". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
32. "Four confirmed dead, one arrested over suspected terror attack". Sveriges Radio. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
33. ^ Foster, Peter; Boyle, Danny; Rothwell, James (8 April 2017). "Sweden truck attack suspect 'is 39-year-old from Uzbekistan who posted jihadist propaganda'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
34. "'Homemade bomb' found in lorry used in Stockholm attack". The Independent. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
35. Anderson, Christina; Sorensen, Martin Selsoe (7 April 2017). "Stockholm Truck Attack Kills 4; Terrorism Is Suspected". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
36. ^ "Continued intense work after the Stockholm attack – Säkerhetspolisen". sakerhetspolisen.se. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
37. ^ "Attack in central Stockholm: 4 dead – explosives found in lorry". Aftonbladet. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
38. "Rustam, 38, hängdes ut som misstänkta 39-åringen – utan belägg". Metro (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 April 2017.
39. Suslin, Maja (9 April 2017). "Attentat de Stockholm: l'homme arrêté soupçonné de liens avec la filière ouzbèke". TT News Agency. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
40. "Stockholm truck attack suspect is rejected asylum seeker, 'interested in Isis': police". The Local. 9 April 2017.
41. "Lastwagenanschlag von Stockholm: Schwedens Behörden wollten Täter seit 2016 abschieben". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
42. "Anschlag in Stockholm: Tatverdächtiger Usbeke sollte abgeschoben werden". Die Zeit. 9 April 2017. ISSN 0044-2070. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
43. "Anschlag in Stockholm: Tatverdächtiger ist IS-Sympathisant – und sollte abgeschoben werden". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 9 April 2017. ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 9 April 2017.

External links

• [REDACTED] Media related to 2017 Stockholm attack at Wikimedia Commons

• Current events from April 2017
• 2010s in Stockholm
• 2017 road incidents
• Attacks on buildings and structures
• Homicides by motor vehicle
• Road incidents in Sweden