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Stockholm attack suspect arrested by police was driver of lorry that ploughed into crowds, police say

'There can be other people who are associated with him, but we do not know that at the current time,' say police

Chantal da Silva
Saturday 08 April 2017 06:24 EDT
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Man arrested in Swedish lorry attack probe 'likely to be driver'

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A man arrested on suspicion of a terror attack in Stockholm is suspected of being the driver of the lorry that ploughed into crowds in a shopping area in the Swedish capital, police have revealed.

“The person in question has been arrested as the culprit ... in this case the driver,” police spokesman Lars Bystrom said.

“Then, there can be other people who are associated with him, but we do not know that at the current time.”

The man was detained in a northern Stockholm suburb on Friday and later arrested on suspicion of having committed a terror crime.

A major police investigation is underway after a hijacked truck, which was reportedly loaded with a homemade bomb, was driven into crowds in a busy shopping area in central Stockholm, killing at least four people and injuring 15.

The suspect is believed to be a 39-year-old man from Uzbekistan, whose registered address is in suburban Stockholm. The man is thought to have been an Isis sympathiser, who reportedly expressed support for the terror group online.

Police had previously said the man they arrested in northern Stockholm ‘matched exactly’ the profile of the in this CCTV image officers released on Friday
Police had previously said the man they arrested in northern Stockholm ‘matched exactly’ the profile of the in this CCTV image officers released on Friday (Stockholm Police)

He is believed to be a father of four children, who worked in the building industry.

A second man has also been arrested in connection with the attack, according to Sweden’s national public broadcaster, SVT.

Police have said he is believed to be connected to the driver of the lorry.

The driver fled the scene after the attack, but officers were able to locate him in the suburb of Märsta, about 25 miles north of the city centre.

Police had said he “matched exactly” the profile of the man whose image they had earlier released as someone they were searching for.

Swedish prosecutor Hans Ihrman said on Saturday that the suspect should face a pre-trial custody hearing before midday Tuesday, or be released.

Stefan Lofven, the Swedish Prime Minister, said all evidence indicated that this was “a terror attack” but the country’s leader vowed that terrorists “will never, ever win”.

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