3 dead as Lorry rams into a store in Stockholm

Sweden

The lorry crashed into the Ahlens department store in the city's centre
Photo: Reuters

The lorry crashed into the Ahlens department store in the city’s centre
Photo: Reuters

A lorry has smashed into a store in central Stockholm, killing at least three people, Swedish police say.

Several people were also injured in the incident on Drottninggatan (Queen Street), one of the city’s major pedestrian streets.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said everything pointed to an act of terrorism.

Local media reported one arrest, but police have said they cannot confirm anyone is being held.

The lorry was hijacked earlier on Friday, its owner said.

The crash happened at the Ahlens department store just before 15:00 local time (13:00 GMT).

Swedish brewery Spendrups said its lorry had been stolen on its way to a restaurant delivery.

“Someone jumped into the driver’s cabin and drove off with the vehicle while the driver was unloading,” a brewery spokesperson told the TT news agency.

Local media reported one arrest, but police have said they cannot confirm anyone is being held in connection with the attack.

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Shots have also reportedly been fired in another part of the city, says BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, citing security sources.

It is not clear whether the two incidents are connected.

Witnesses say the lorry drove into the front window of the Ahlens store.

One eyewitness told the BBC she was in the shop’s fitting room when she heard the screams. “There was blood everywhere,” she said.

The shop sits close to the city’s central station, which was evacuated.

The metro was also suspended after the attack.

One shopper, Gustav Hokkanen, called the BBC from inside a nearby store, where he was taking refuge.

“We’re being told to stay here,” he said. “I’m about 25 metres from where the incident happened. Usually I work there […]. It’s a total lockdown right now. It’s madness at the moment. There are lots of police outside.”

-BBC

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