Eight people are injured in 'terror attack' in Sweden with police shooting '22-year-old Afghan suspect who was previously convicted for smoking cannabis'

  • Suspected terrorist launched attack around 3pm Wednesday in southern town 
  • He was shot in the leg by officers after injuring eight people with a blade
  • Three victims suffered life-threatening injuries, another two in serious condition
  • Suspect a 22-year-old Afghan national with drug convictions, local media said 

By Ross Ibbetson For Mailonline and Afp

Published: | Updated:

Eight people were yesterday wounded in a suspected terrorist attack in Sweden. 

The assailant, reportedly a 22-year-old Afghan national, was shot in the leg after launching his attack at around 3pm in Vetlanda, a small town in the country's south.

Three of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries, while another two were said to be in a 'serious condition.'

Local media gave conflicting reports that the assailant used either a knife or an axe.

Last night, police raided the suspect's apartment in the town. He is known to police and has previous convictions for minor drugs offences, including possession of cannabis, according to daily newspaper Expressen.

Witness footage shows an ambulance and police officers at the scene on Wednesday in Vetlanda
Witness footage shows an ambulance and police officers at the scene on Wednesday in Vetlanda

Witness footage shows an ambulance and police officers at the scene on Wednesday in Vetlanda

Police investigators work at the scene where a man attacked eight people with a 'sharp weapon' in the Swedish town of Vetlanda on Wednesday

Police investigators work at the scene where a man attacked eight people with a 'sharp weapon' in the Swedish town of Vetlanda on Wednesday

His motive remains unclear but police said they are treating it as a 'suspected terrorist crime.' 

Local resident Olivia Strandberg told broadcaster SVT she didn't see the actual attack but witnessed the man being taken away, from her window just as she returned home from work.

'I had just gotten to my apartment when my best friend wrote me and said: Don't go out!,' Strandberg said, with the broadcaster showing footage of the suspect being taken away in an ambulance on a quiet street.

Local police chief Jonas Lindell told media they had identified five different crime scenes, a few hundred yards apart, in the small town of around 13,000 residents.

Lindell said the suspect was a resident of the area and previously known to police, but in the past had only been suspected of 'petty crimes.' 

The extent of the suspect's injuries were unknown but police said they believed they would be able question him.  

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven condemned the attack as he sent his condolences to the victims and their families.

'Tonight I am thinking of those injured in Vetlanda and their relatives. I condemn this horrific violence. We are facing these heinous acts with the collective power of society,' the PM said in a written statement.

Minister of the Interior Mikael Damberg called the attack 'terrible.' 

Police last night investigating at one of five crime scenes set up in the town after the attack

Police last night investigating at one of five crime scenes set up in the town after the attack

The attack took place at around 3pm on Wednesday in the small town of Vetlanda in southern Sweden

The attack took place at around 3pm on Wednesday in the small town of Vetlanda in southern Sweden

The government minister said: 'Several people are seriously injured. These are terrible events and my thoughts go to the victims and their relatives.

'Right now it is unclear exactly what happened and what the motive was. The police have arrested a suspected perpetrator and have initiated a special incident to handle the development of the incident and create security in Vetlanda.' 

Swedish intelligence services consider the terrorist threat to be high.

The Scandinavian country has been targeted twice by attacks in recent years.

In December 2010, a man carried out a suicide bomb attack in the centre of Stockholm. He died after only slightly injuring passers-by.

In April 2017, a rejected and radicalised Uzbek asylum seeker mowed down pedestrians in Stockholm with a stolen truck, killing five people. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Sweden

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