A 39-year-old Uzbek man being held in custody is the suspected driver of a hijacked beer delivery truck that ploughed into crowds in central Stockholm, killing four people and wounding 15 in an apparent terror attack, police said on Saturday.
The man, previously known to Swedish intelligence services as a marginal figure with no clear links to extremist groups, is suspected of mowing down pedestrians on a busy shopping street and smashing through a store front on Friday.
"Nothing indicates that we have the wrong person, on the contrary, suspicions have strengthened as the investigation has progressed," Dan Eliasson, head of Sweden's national police, told a news conference on Saturday.
The man, detained on Friday night on terrorism charges after the attack in the heart of the capital, appeared to have acted alone but "we still cannot rule out that more people are involved," he said.
The suspect, from the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan, will be represented by a court-appointed lawyer, Johan Eriksson, national news agency TT said. Police did not name the detainee and said he had seemed peripheral in intelligence reports.
"We received intelligence last year, but we did not see any links to extremist circles," Sapo security police chief Anders Thornberg said.
Eliasson said there were "clear similarities" to an attack last month in London in which six people died, including the assailant who drove a hired car into pedestrians on a bridge.
Vehicles have also been used as weapons in Nice and Berlin in the past year in attacks claimed by Islamic State.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack in Sweden, which until now had been largely immune from major attacks and where many take pride in an open, democratic society.
"I think it was just a matter of time, but still one doesn't think it will happen," Cecilia Hansson, a 25 year-old nurse, said. "It's still unreal when it happens this close."
Police said they had found a suspicious device in the vehicle, which ended up rammed into the Ahlens department store, but said they did not yet know if it was a homemade bomb, as reported by public broadcaster SVT.
Local authorities in Stockholm, where flags flew at half mast on buildings including the parliament and royal palace, said 10 people including a child were still being treated in hospital, with two adults in intensive care.
Sweden will hold a minute's silence at midday (1000 GMT) on Monday to mourn the dead. Police said they were maintaining a heightened presence, fearing copycat attacks.
FLOWERS, DEFIANCE
A gaping hole in the wall of the store showed the force of the impact from the truck, which was removed overnight for examination by forensics experts, and dozens of people gathered to pay their respects and leave flowers, stunned by the attack.
Crown Princess Victoria was among them, laying a bouquet of red roses. "I feel an enormous sadness, I feel empty," she said, urging Swedes to unite in their grief.
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven also visited the site and struck a defiant tone: "All of us feel anger over what has happened, I also feel the same anger, but we also need to use that anger for something constructive and go forward."
"We want - and I am convinced the Swedish people also want - to live a normal life. We are an open, democratic society and that is what we will remain."
The attack was the latest to hit the Nordic region after shootings in the Danish capital Copenhagen killed three people in 2015 and the mass attack in 2011 by far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in Norway.
A failed suicide bombing in December 2010 killed an attacker only a few hundred yards from the site of Friday's incident.
IMMIGRATION
For decades, Sweden has been among the most generous nations to immigrants. But some Swedes are having second thoughts after more than 160,000 people, many from Syria, applied for asylum in 2015 in a nation of just 10 million.
Sweden has since tightened its borders and asylum numbers have slowed to a trickle. Support for the opposition far-right Sweden Democrat party, which links worries about education, welfare costs and crime with immigration, has continued to rise.
"We have warned about such incidents ... but we do not want to score any political points today," Julia Kronlid, vice chairman of the party, told Reuters.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack in Nice, France, in July 2016, when a truck killed 86 people, and a truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin in December that killed 12.
In last month's attack in London, a man drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge near Britain's parliament and then stabbed a policeman to death before being killed himself.
In February U.S. President Donald Trump falsely suggested there had been an immigration-related security incident in Sweden, to the bafflement of Swedes.
Neutral Sweden has not fought a war in more than 200 years, but its military has taken part in U.N. peacekeeping missions in several conflict zones, including Iraq, Mali and Afghanistan.
Reuters
Sat Apr 08 2017
![Uzbek man main suspect in Swedish truck attack that killed four Uzbek man main suspect in Swedish truck attack that killed four](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-04/51491575851_StckholmAttack.jpg)
People killed in incident when a truck was driven Friday April 7 2017 into a department store in central Stockholm, Sweden April 7, 2017. - TT News Agency/Noella Johansson/via Reuters
![Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024 Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81717305735_EkonomiMalaysia.jpg)
Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024
Kalangan ahli ekonomi yakin KDNK Malaysia bagi suku kedua 2024 akan berkembang pada 5.8 peratus berbanding 4.2 peratus pada suku pertama tahun ini.
![Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723681507_Ciscologo.jpg)
Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya
Langkah mengurangkan kakitangan itu dijangka melibatkan kos pra-cukai sehingga AS$1 bilion.
Jiwa SME: Kuih tradisonal sejuk beku 'diterbangkan' ke Tanah Suci
Inovasi pembuatan makanan sejuk beku, terutama kuih muih tradisional telah berjaya membawa produk itu ke peringkat global, terutama dalam memenuhi citarasa jemaah haji dan umrah rakyat Malaysia di Tanah Suci Mekah dan Madinah.
![Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723679998_KylianMbappe.jpg)
Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA
"Ia adalah malam yang hebat. Ia adalah detik yang hebat untuk saya. Dan kami memenangi kejuaraan, yang penting - di Madrid anda perlu sentiasa menang."
![“I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie “I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723679258_AufahanieNidzaAfh.jpg)
“I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie
Air mata Aufahanie sudah kering meratapi pemergian abang tercinta, Nidza Afham yang ditemui meninggal dunia selepas dilaporkan hilang.
Konsert jelajah: Taylor Swift teruskan konsert London selepas ancaman keganasan
Taylor Swift akan meneruskan persembahan di London pada Khamis, meneruskan jelajah konsert terbesar dunia di tengah-tengah kebimbangan keselamatan susulan cubaan serangan Daesh memaksa pembatalan tarikh konsert di Vienna, minggu lalu.
Taliban rai ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahan Afghanistan
Kerajaan Taliban semalam meraikan ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahannya di Afghanistan dengan perarakan tentera yang memberi penghormatan kepada bom buatan sendiri yang digunakan ketika peperangan, pesawat pejuang dan perbarisan pasukan keselamatan.
![Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723677980_MounirNasraoui.jpg)
Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan
Mounir Nasraoui, bapa kepada Lamine Yamal, ditikam pada lewat Rabu di tempat letak kereta di bandar Mataro di timur laut Sepanyol.
Warga AS dihukum penjara 15 hari di Rusia kerana bersikap samseng
Mahkamah Moscow menjatuhkan hukuman penjara 15 hari kepada warga Amerika Syarikat Joseph Tater pada Rabu kerana bersikap samseng.
Putin anggap rundingan dengan Ukraine tidak berguna
Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin menyifatkan, tindakan Ukraine yang menyerang orang awam memperlihatkan keengganan Kyiv menyelesaikan konflik peperangan dua negara dengan cara perdamaian.
![Pengawal keselamatan didakwa miliki buku, lukisan bendera dan video Daish Pengawal keselamatan didakwa miliki buku, lukisan bendera dan video Daish](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/61690187975_CourtGavel.jpg)
Pengawal keselamatan didakwa miliki buku, lukisan bendera dan video Daish
Muhamad Norulaini Supardi, 33, hanya mengangguk tanda faham selepas pertuduhan terhadapnya dibacakan di hadapan Hakim Mazuliana Abdul Rashid.
![Daish: Mahkamah Persekutuan kekal hukuman penjara 10 tahun terhadap bekas penjual cendol Daish: Mahkamah Persekutuan kekal hukuman penjara 10 tahun terhadap bekas penjual cendol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/61690187975_CourtGavel.jpg)
Daish: Mahkamah Persekutuan kekal hukuman penjara 10 tahun terhadap bekas penjual cendol
Panel hakim membuat keputusan sebulat suara selepas menolak rayuan akhir Nahzatulazran A. Rahman, 44, terhadap hukuman penjara itu.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/41680607592_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![1,000 orang dipindahkan selepas ancaman bom sasar Kompleks Sukan Jamsil, Seoul 1,000 orang dipindahkan selepas ancaman bom sasar Kompleks Sukan Jamsil, Seoul](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-08/81659859634_JamsilSportsComple.jpg)
1,000 orang dipindahkan selepas ancaman bom sasar Kompleks Sukan Jamsil, Seoul
Sebanyak 14 kenderaan dan 58 anggota polis dikerah memindahkan kira-kira 1,000 peserta yang sedang membuat persiapan bagi sambutan Seoul Festa.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/61648036783_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Israel secara rahsia selaras serangan udara ke atas Syria, elak konflik dengan kempen AS - Laporan Israel secara rahsia selaras serangan udara ke atas Syria, elak konflik dengan kempen AS - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-07/71595553091_Ffighterjets.jpg)
Israel secara rahsia selaras serangan udara ke atas Syria, elak konflik dengan kempen AS - Laporan
Israel secara rahsia menyelaraskan serangan udara ke atas Syria bersama tentera AS, bertujuan mengelak operasinya bertembung dengan kempen AS menentang kumpulan pengganas Daish.
![Ketua PBB prihatin dengan kematian orang awam dalam tindakan AS membunuh pemimpin Daish Ketua PBB prihatin dengan kematian orang awam dalam tindakan AS membunuh pemimpin Daish](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/51643254142_AntonioGuterres.jpg)
Ketua PBB prihatin dengan kematian orang awam dalam tindakan AS membunuh pemimpin Daish
Antonio Guterres berkata, siasatan adalah penting dalam kes menentukan pihak yang bertanggungjawab atas kematian akibat serangan.
![Serangan bom kereta: 8 maut, 15 cedera termasuk Ahli Parlimen Afghanistan Serangan bom kereta: 8 maut, 15 cedera termasuk Ahli Parlimen Afghanistan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/61608470917_Afghan.jpg)
Serangan bom kereta: 8 maut, 15 cedera termasuk Ahli Parlimen Afghanistan
Menurut pihak berkuasa, serangan turut mencederakan 15 yang lain termasuk Ahli Parlimen, Khan Mohammad Wardak.
![6 penguat kuasa undang-undang cedera serangan pengebom bunuh diri di Rusia 6 penguat kuasa undang-undang cedera serangan pengebom bunuh diri di Rusia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-03/71553380736_explosive.jpg)
6 penguat kuasa undang-undang cedera serangan pengebom bunuh diri di Rusia
Letupan berlaku di luar bangunan Perkhidmatan Keselamatan Persekutuan (FSB)
![EU pertimbang langkah baharu tangani ekstremis EU pertimbang langkah baharu tangani ekstremis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-06/51592658755_kesatuaneropahEU.jpg)
EU pertimbang langkah baharu tangani ekstremis
Ini susulan siri pembunuhan di Austria dan Perancis dalam beberapa minggu terakhir oleh pengganas yang dikaitkan dengan militan Daish.