Advertisement

Swedish police arrest Uzbekistan-born man in truck attack which left 4 dead

Click to play video: 'Terrorists ram truck into crowd in Sweden’s capital'
Terrorists ram truck into crowd in Sweden’s capital
WATCH ABOVE: Terrorist rams truck into crowd in Sweden's capital – Apr 7, 2017

Swedish prosecutor Hans Ihrman confirms that the suspect detained over Friday’s deadly truck attack is a 39-year-old Uzbekistan-born man.

The head of Sweden’s domestic intelligence agency says the man had been on authorities’ radar some time ago.

Anders Thornberg, head of the Swedish Security Service, said “the suspect didn’t appear in our recent files but he earlier has been in our files.”

WATCH: Sweden’s police chief Dan Eliasson on Saturday confirmed that the suspect is a 39-year-old Uzbekistan-born man.
Click to play video: 'Swedish police confirm truck attack suspect arrested is 39-year-old Uzbekistan-born man'
Swedish police confirm truck attack suspect arrested is 39-year-old Uzbekistan-born man

He said the security services are working with other nations’ security agencies on the matter, but declined to elaborate.

Story continues below advertisement

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Friday’s attack.

Bystrom would not confirm or deny media reports that police had found a bag containing explosives in the truck. “We do not comment on what we have seized,” he said.

WATCH: Sweden truck attack suspect identified as country mourns victims. Mike Le Couteur reports.

Click to play video: 'Sweden truck attack suspect identified as country mourns victims'
Sweden truck attack suspect identified as country mourns victims

READ MORE: 2 arrested after Stockholm truck attack kills 4, injures 15

Sweden’s health service raised the number of people being treated in hospitals for injuries to 10. It said two were in intensive care, four were seriously injured but the one child was not seriously hurt. Earlier, Karolinska Hospital had reported nine people were still in the hospital.

The grey Stockholm skyline was dotted with flags flying half-staff on a cool morning where a few people walked the quiet streets near the scene of the truck attack.

Story continues below advertisement
WATCH: Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel on Saturday visited the cordoned off area near the site where a hijacked beer truck rammed into pedestrians and into a department store.
Click to play video: 'Swedish Royals, public lay flowers at memorial for victims of Friday’s ‘terror attack’ in Stockholm'
Swedish Royals, public lay flowers at memorial for victims of Friday’s ‘terror attack’ in Stockholm

Jogging nearby, a couple from the southwestern city Goteborg had come to spend a “quiet weekend” in the Swedish capital and were shocked by the attack, Carina Lindstrom said.

“I just could not believe this sort of thing would happen, not here in Stockholm and Sweden,” she said.

Her husband, Joachim Lindstrom, disagreed:

“It was not unexpected. I’m not surprised at all. It was just a question of time.”

Sweden’s vice-prime minister, Isabella Lovin, and Education Minister Gustav Fridolin laid red and yellow roses Saturday morning, close to the site of the attack.

WATCH: Amateur video shows civilians fleeing in moments following truck incident in Stockholm, Sweden
Click to play video: 'Amateur video shows civilians fleeing in moments following truck incident in Stockholm, Sweden'
Amateur video shows civilians fleeing in moments following truck incident in Stockholm, Sweden

The stolen beer truck travelled for more than 500 yards (meters) along a main pedestrian street known as the Drottninggatan before it smashed into a crowd outside the upscale Ahlens department store about 3 p.m. Friday.

Story continues below advertisement

It came to rest in the entrance to the building. TV footage showed smoke coming out of the store after the crash.

“People were screaming and running in all directions,” said Brandon Sekitto, who was in his car nearby. “(The truck) drove straight into the Ahlens entrance.”

“I saw the driver, a man in black who was light around the face,” Brandon told Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter. “Some women were screaming, ‘Run! Run!”‘

WATCH: Canada strongly condemns hateful attack in Stockholm, Sweden: Trudeau
Click to play video: 'Canada strongly condemns hateful attack in Stockholm, Sweden: Trudeau'
Canada strongly condemns hateful attack in Stockholm, Sweden: Trudeau

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Friday that the attack “indicates that it is an act of terror.”

Later Friday night, Lofven laid a bouquet of red roses and lit a candle near the site.

“The country is in a state of shock,” he said. “The aim of terrorism is to undermine democracy. But such a goal will never be achieved in Sweden.”

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices