Yahoo News Stockholm attack driver 'deliberately targeted young children' as he drove hijacked lorry into crowd
Truck is hijacked and driven into Stockholm department store
Man 'arrested and claims responsibility for attack'
At least four dead and 15 injured
Swedish Prime Minister: Everything indicates this is terrorism
Suspect reported to be 39-year-old Uzbek father of four
A suspected terrorist targeted young children as he drove a hijacked lorry into a crowded shopping street in Stockholm, witnesses claimed last night.
Infants’ buggies were sent “flying through the air”, one Swedish broadcaster reported, as the vehicle zigzagged along the pedestrianised Queen Street shopping district and embedded itself in the window of a department store.
“It swerved from side to side. It didn’t look out of control, it was trying to hit people,” a second witness, Glen Foran, an Australian tourist, told Reuters. “It hit people, it was terrible. It hit a pram with a kid in it, demolished it.”
Swedish police said on Saturday morning that they believe a 39-year-old suspect was behind the truck attack which left four dead and 15 injured, but declined to comment on reports that the suspect was a father-of-four from Uzbekistan.
The unnamed suspect reportedly confessed to the attack after being detained in Marsta, which is around 25 miles north of the Swedish capital.
Some reports suggested he had previously posted jihadist propaganda on his Facebook page and had images of people injured in the explosion at the Boston marathon in April 2013.
Stockholm terror attack, in pictures
Police found explosives in the truck used in the attack in Stockholm, Swedish television said on Saturday citing multiple unnamed police sources.
Eight victims, including children, remain in hospital, according to Swedish media. Three of the victims died at the scene, a report said, while one died after arriving at the hospital.
Sweden’s prime minister, Stefan Löfven, said everything indicated the incident was terrorism.
It happened less than three weeks after the Westminster Bridge attack and stirred up memories of the attacks in Nice and Berlin where Islamist sympathisers used lorries as weapons – a tactic first suggested in a 2010 directive from al-Qaeda commanders to their supporters.
The attack also came less than two months after Donald Trump provoked a row with Sweden after suggesting that immigration had led to rising crime in the country.
Television footage showed hundreds of shoppers and office workers fleeing the scene after the lorry careered down the pedestrian precinct, killing a dog and crushing flowerpots and litter bins as it went.
“We stood inside a shoe store and heard something and then people started to scream. I looked out of the store and saw a big truck,” Jan Granroth told Aftonbladet.
Another witness said: “When I came out, I saw a lorry standing there, with smoke coming from it, and there were loads of bits of cars and broken flowerpots along the street.”
Annevi Petersson, a photographer, ran out from a store when she heard screaming coming from outside. “I saw a woman had a partly severed foot. People screaming in panic, others ran. I saw people laying bloody on the street and got out of there.”
Stockholm was put on lockdown, with the metro and mainline trains closed, as police fanned out across the city in pursuit of the suspect. Stockholm city council announced that it was opening public buildings for those stranded by the train and bus closures.
The attack, which used a truck hijacked from a Swedish brewing company as it made its deliveries yesterday morning, drew condemnation and condolences from around the world.
Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, said he was “deeply concerned”. “Britain’s thoughts are with the victims, their families and the whole of Sweden,” he added.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, expressed his sympathies, saying his city shared a “steely determination with the people of Stockholm that we will never allow terrorists to succeed”.
The European Union and countries across the continent added their voices of support, led by Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and François Hollande, the French president, who expressed “outrage” at the attack in a statement from the Elysée Palace. Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, said that Europe would face down terrorism.
Where the attack took place 3:23AM
Swedish prosecutors says man arrested on strongest level of suspicion for terror crime
Swedish prosecutors said on Saturday a man detained in connection with a truck attack in the capital had been arrested on the strongest degree of suspicion of committing a terror crime, the Reuters news agency is reporting
Sweden's legal system has several degrees regarding the strength of suspicion.
"One person has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist crimes through murder," Karin Rosander, press spokesperson at the prosecutors office said.
Second man arrested
Citing police sources, Swedish media is reporting that a second man has been arrested in connection with the attack.
He was apprehended at 11.30pm in Julstad by the national task force in a suburb of Stockholm.
Sweden reinforces its borders
Sweden has reinforced its borders with immediate effect, Stefan Löfven, the Swedish Prime Minister said.
Describing the attack as a tragedy for the families involved, he added that he would do “whatever it takes” to ensure people felt safe.
"Terrorists want us to be afraid...to not live our lives normally, but that is what we are going to do. Terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never."
The Prime Minister, who laid a bouquet of red roses and lit a candle near the store where the atrocity took place, added that the attack had attacked people when they were at their most vulnerable, going about their daily lives.
Narrow escape for Afghan who lost family members to terrorist attack three years ago
Faisal Khan, who is now a Swedish citizen, was just across the road when the terrorist struck.
“I was standing just across the road,” he told The Local.
“When he hit the traffic light it made a loud noise that made people take notice and get out of the way.
“When he hit the traffic light it made a loud noise that made people take notice and get out of the way.”
Mr Khan lost his brother, sister-in-law, and their two children, added: “I felt the pain of people running in panic and crying about the same kind of thing I have lived through all my life.
“Suddenly something happens that changes everything. These poor families will never feel the same again.”
Witness describes hearing an 'intense bang'
The Telegraph's James Rothwell has spoken to David Lundberg, a 31-year-old photographer whose office overlooks Queens Street.
"It was so loud I said to my colleague that must have been a bomb. It was an intense bang. We heard screaming. I looked out the window and saw a man covered in blood lying on his stomach. And a boy and a child who people were running towards. Another body on the ground was just split in two. Then people were screaming and the police came.
"I went outside and walked past what I thought as some rubbish . Then I realised it was a severed hand and a leg . There was a medical kit in the office so We took that downstairs with my camera and I took some photos. After that the police surrounded the area and i walked I home because the stations were closed."
Wall came towards shoppers ‘like an avalanche’
One of the shoppers caught up in the Stockholm attack has given a graphic description of how the horror unfolded.
Christoffer Ung was shopping in the Åhléns department store when the stolen truck ploughed through the crowd of shoppers.
“I was on my way to the exit and just saw the wall coming towards us like an avalanche,” he told the TT news agency.
“People turned in panic and fled towards the exits. Then the main thing was to get away from the scene as quickly as possible. My first thought was that a bomb had exploded.”
“When I came out of the building I saw flames emerging from it.”
Swedish police say man arrested in connection with truck attack identified
Swedish police last night said the person arrested resembled the picture and description of a man that police went public with after the attack.
"We went public with information and a picture of a person that we were interested in. The person who is arrested resembles that description which means we have particular interest in him in regard to the ongoing investigation," said Jan Evensson, regional police official told a news conference.
Swedish police confirm one man arrested
"One person has been arrested who may be connected with the incident," police said in a statement.
Death toll rises to four
Four people have died and 15 people have been injured, nine seriously, in the Stockholm lorry attack, Swedish emergency services have said.
Man 'arrested, claiming responsibility for attack'
According to a local newspaper, a man has been arrested in northern Stockholm, claiming responsibility for the attack
Stockholm's subway to reopen
Just a few hours after the attack, Stockholm's subway service has already been cleared to restart.
The city's public transport authority announced the news, but all bus traffic in the city centre remains at a standstill.
Trains will not stop at the two stations closest to where the truck attack took place.
Eyewitness heard screams, then all went quiet
Annevi Petersson, who was in the fitting room of the department store at the time of the attack, has been talking about what she witnessed.
"I heard the noise, I heard the screams, I saw the people," she told the BBC. "As I walked out, just outside the store there was a dead dog, the owner screaming. There was a lady lying with a severed foot.
"There was blood everywhere. There were bodies on the ground everywhere, and a sense of panic, people standing by their loved ones, but also people running away.
It got very quiet. There was the noise, then everything got quiet, and then people started screaming and crying, obviously people severely wounded, then people running away."
Stockholm City Council opens its doors
Stockholm City Council is giving refuge to anyone stranded in the city and unable to get home after trains and buses were cancelled.
More information, in Swedish, is available here.
Police are questioning two people
Swedish police have confirmed they are interviewing two people in relation to the truck attack.
"I can confirm that we have taken in two people for questioning, but that does not necessarily mean that they are suspects," police spokesman Lars Bystrom said.
"We want to talk to everybody who knows anything about this and sometimes it's better to talk at the police station than [the] place of [the] event."
Londoners 'stand united' with Stockholm
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said the capital "stands united with Stockholm".
It is only a fortnight since Westminster was targeted in another attack.
Mr Khan said it appears Sweden has "seen a despicable act of terrorism aimed at harming innocent people and attacking our shared values of democracy, freedom, justice and tolerance".
"We share a steely determination with the people of Stockholm that we will never allow terrorists to succeed," he said.
Police release image of wanted man
Swedish police have released this image, showing a man they say is wanted in connection with the attack.
Eyewitness: lorry 'hit a pram with a kid in it'
Glen Foran, an Australian tourist in his 40s, witnessed the attack.
"I turned around and saw a big truck coming towards me," he said. It swerved from side to side. It didn't look out of control, it was trying to hit people.
"It hit people, it was terrible. It hit a pram with a kid in it, demolished it.
"It took a long time for police to get here. I suppose from their view it was quick, but it felt like forever."
Trains to Stockholm cancelled
All trains to and from Stockholm central station have been cancelled for the rest of the day. The station was evacuated earlier this afternoon.
Timeline of car attacks
Here's a timeline of terror attacks using cars and trucks, from our graphics department
Terror timeline - Ramming attacks involving vehicles
Johnson's 'deep concern' over the attack
Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, has expressed his "deep concern" over the attack
https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/850373821181952002
Death toll remains unclear
SVT, a Swedish broadcaster, has reported that at least five people were killed, but other Swedish media reported the toll as at least three.
The police have yet to release an official figure.
"A truck was driven into Ahlen's department store on Drottninggatan," said national police commissioner Dan Eliasson. "There are many people injured. We can't confirm numbers of injuries or deaths at this press conference. The medical authorities will confirm that."
Senior police officer Mats Lofving said: "We don't know whether this incident is isolated or whether we can expect more.
"We have police positioned at several strategic places with a particular risk threat."
Putin: Russians and Swedes 'mourn together'
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has sent a telegram of condolence to Sweden's king. It is only four days since a suicide bomb in St Petersburg killed 13.
"In our country, people know, and not by hearsay, about the atrocities of international terrorism," he wrote. "At this difficult time, Russians mourn together with the people of Sweden."
Do not drive into Stockholm, police say
Swedish police say they cannot say how many people were killed or injured by the truck and they have not found the driver.
"We have no contact with the person or persons who drove the truck," Dan Eliasson, the chief of Sweden's police, told a news conference.
"Right now we have no one arrested," said Jan Evensson of the Stockholm police who urged people not to drive into central Stockholm.
European leaders express condolences
Politicians across Europe have been reacting to events.
"Terrible news from Stockholm," Juha Sipila, Finland's Prime Minister wrote in a tweet. "Our thoughts are with our neighbours and friends in Sweden."
Anders Samuelson, the Danish foreign minister, said: "It's so horrible to learn about this terror attack... And one thing we can do is to cooperate even closer on exchanging data, exchanging information about what we learn of those terror cells or terrorists."
Steffen Seibert, a German government spokesman, tweeted: "Our thoughts are with the people in Stockholm - the injured, relatives, rescuers and police. We stand together against terror."
Suspect 'wearing green jacket, white shoes and grey hoodie'
According to local journalists, police are hunting a suspect wearing a green jacket, white shoes and a grey hoodie.
More pictures coming in from the scene
Armed police at Oslo airport
Following the attack, police at Oslo airport and in the largest Norwegian cities will be armed until further notice, according to a police statement. Police officers in Norway, which borders Sweden, do not normally carry weapons.
Swedish King's 'dismay'
Carl XVI Gustaf, Sweden's King, said that his family reacted to the attack "with dismay".
"We follow developments but as of now our thoughts go to the victims and their families," he said in a brief statement.
Sauli Niinsto, president of neighbouring Finland, said he was shocked by a "maniac act of terror".
"Every terror attack is to be equally condemned," he said. "But it touches us deeply when such an attack takes place in our Nordic neighbourhood."
Conflicting reports about arrest
After the Swedish Prime Minister said one person had been arrested over the attack, Swedish Police have since said that nobody has been arrested.
Juncker: We stand in solidarity with the people of Sweden
We stand in solidarity with the people of #Sweden. An attack on any of our Member States is an attack on us all https://t.co/YDYiHoKkSV
— Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) April 7, 2017
Witness: 'Rubbish bags are being used to cover the lifeless bodies'
The lorry ploughed into the Ahlens department store, which is part of a country-wide chain.
One witness said: "When I came out I saw a lorry standing there, with smoke coming from it, and there were loads of bits of cars and broken flower pots along the street."
Another witness said: "People are lying mowed down along the whole route. CPR is being given and rubbish bags are being used to cover the lifeless bodies."
British national Itay Lotem was nearby when the lorry ploughed into pedestrians in the centre of the city:
"I was sitting in a cafe, I just suddenly saw people coming in and talking about a lorry that had driven into people.
"I walked out and there were many people in that street, it's a pedestrian street. Very quickly police cordoned everything off."
Office worker JP Hanson described the scene as mayhem and said his building has been put into lockdown.
"Right now, inside here we have maybe 40 people," he told BBC News. "The mood is quite positive, obviously people are afraid - but I would say it's a strong mood."
Latest pictures from scene in Stockholm shopping district
Death toll rises to five after truck terror attack
At least five people are now confirmed dead and many more injured after the terror attack, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported.
Video: Emergency services at scene of truck crash
Arrest after lorry terror attack
One person has been arrested after the lorry terror attack, Sweden's Prime Minister said.
A crash, the screams... and bodies covered in blankets
Pools of blood were visible on the street along with bodies covered in blankets.
Paramedics could also be seen tending to the injured near the truck.
Jan Granroth told Aftonbladet: "We stood inside a shoe store and heard something ... and then people started to scream.
"I looked out of the store and saw a big truck."
Video: Stockholm truck crash surrounded by firefighters
Crash comes after trucks used in Nice and Berlin attacks
The Swedish intelligence agency has said "a large number of people have been injured" after the crash.
It comes after trucks were used in terror attacks in Nice and Berlin last year.
Truck was hijacked, brewery company that owns it says
The Local reports that the Swedish brewery company Spendrups, which owns the truck, said it had been hijacked earlier in the day, reports Peter Foster.
"It's one of our distribution vehicles which runs deliveries. During a delivery to the restaurant Caliente someone jumped into the driver's cabin and drove off with the car, while the driver unloads," communication director Mårten Lyth told the TT news agency.
Swedish PM: Everything indicates crash is terror attack
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has said everything indicates that the Stockholm truck crash is "a terror attack".
The Swedish intelligence agency also described the truck crash as an attack not an accident.
Police confirm at least two killed and many injured
Swedish police have confirmed that at least two people have been killed and many injured in the Stockholm incident. It has issued a warning to avoid the city centre. All subway traffic has been shut down.
Pictures show lorry crashed into department store
Pictures on social media showed the lorry had crashed into the corner of a department store with its cab on fire.
An Aftonbladet reporter on the scene said police suspected the crash was terror related.
Lastbil brinner inne på Åhléns Stockholms city pic.twitter.com/4xJkJjEPNk
— John Backvid (@JohnBackvid) April 7, 2017
Other reports said bodies had been covered by blankets at the scene of the crash.
Police treating crash as possible terror attack
Swedish Police are treating the incident as a possible terror attack, according to the SVT channel.
The force said it has received information about possible shots being fired, but the information is not yet confirmed.
Swedish radio - three dead
Sweden's Ekot public radio reports that at least three people have been killed in the crash.
