By Canadian Press

Swedish police: Man injures at least 8 before being arrested

Mar 3, 2021 | 12:40 PM

STOCKHOLM — Swedish police said a man assaulted at least eight people in a southern Sweden town Wednesday, and that the case was being investigated as ”attempted murder.”

Police said a man in his 20s attacked people in the small town of Vetlanda, about 190 kilometres (118 miles) southeast of Goteborg, Sweden’s second largest city.

The man was shot by police, who said the condition of those attacked and of the perpetrator was not immediately known. Officials did not immediately provide further details, including on the identity of the suspect.

The events took place in downtown Vetlanda. Swedish media reported that the assailant used an axe.

”Some are seriously injured and some are slightly injured, but no one is dead,” police spokeswoman Angelica Israelsson Silfver told the Aftonbladet newspaper.

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Regional police chief Malena Grann told a news conference that a suspect had been arrested after ”police opened fire.” Local police chief Jonas Lindell said the suspect had been admitted to hospital.

“As it is now, we have started a preliminary investigation into attempted murder. That is the criminal classification we have. There are details in the investigation that make us investigate any terrorist motives, but at the moment I cannot go into details,” Grann said.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven condemned “this terrible act,” and added that Sweden’s domestic security agency SAPO was also working on the case.

”They continuously assess whether there are reasons to take security-enhancing measures and are prepared to do so if necessary,” he said in a statement.

Swedish police were expected to hold a press conference later Wednesday.

The Associated Press