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A truck has driven into a crowd on a shopping street and crashed into a department store in central Stockholm, killing three people and injuring eight in what the country's Prime Minister said appeared to be a terrorist attack.
Key points:
- Three killed, eight wounded in "act of terrorism"
- Truck was reportedly owned by Swedish beermaker Spendrups and stolen on Friday
- Swedish Government offices closed after the attack, source tells Reuters
Part of central Stockholm was cordoned off and the area was evacuated, including the main train station. All subway traffic was halted on orders from the police.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said all indications were that was an "act of terrorism".
"Sweden has been attacked," he said on Twitter.
"Be vigilant, and listen to the police information."
Nobody has been arrested in connection with the attack police said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Police confirmed three deaths and eight people injured.
Swedish broadcaster SVT said shots were fired during the attack and people in the area were reportedly seen fleeing the scene.
"I saw at least three dead, but probably more," Swedish radio reporter Martin Svenningsen said.
"We stood inside a shoe store and heard something ... and then people started to scream," witness Jan Granroth told local media.
"I looked out of the store and saw a big truck."
Local media reported that several people were rushed away in ambulances, and live television footage showed smoke coming out of the department store that the truck smashed into.
A Government source told Reuters all Swedish Government offices had been closed. All ministers were safe, the source said.
'An attack on us all'
King Carl Gustaf, Sweden's head of state, expressed his horror at the attack.
"Our thoughts are going out to those that were affected, and to their families," he said in a statement from the royal palace.
In Brussels, the European Union offered Sweden support and solidarity.
"An attack on any of our member states is an attack on us all," said EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker.
"One of Europe's most vibrant and colourful cities appears to have been struck by those wishing it and our very way of life harm."
The truck was reportedly owned by Swedish beermaker Spendrups, with local media saying its truck had been carjacked earlier on Friday.
Photos showed the beer truck protruding from the Ahlens department store.
Reuters/AP
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, sweden
First posted