10:51am UK, Sunday December 12, 2010
Two explosions in the centre of Stockholm were terrorist attacks, Swedish police have confirmed.
Blasts In Sweden Blamed On Suicide Bomber
10:51am UK, Sunday December 12, 2010
Two explosions in the centre of Stockholm were terrorist attacks, Swedish police have confirmed.
One person - believed to be a suicide bomber - was killed in the blasts and two others in a busy shopping area were injured.
"We are investigating this as terror crimes according to Swedish law," police official Anders Thornberg told a news conference.
"We are still investigating the case. In this situation, we have not raised the security (threat) level," he added.
The explosions were also described as a "terrorist" action in a Twitter message sent by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
A police forensic officer photographs the scene in Stockholm
"Most worrying attempt at terrorist attack in crowded part of central Stockholm," Bildt tweeted.
"Failed - but could have been truly catastrophic...," he added.
The two almost simultaneous explosions were a suicide attack, according to SVT television.
It said the only person to die in the attack was the bomber, and a bag filled with nails was found near the body.
Police spokesman Kjell Lindgren said officers were investigating whether other, unexploded bombs were on the scene.
The TT news agency said it had received an email warning with a threat to Sweden and its people ahead of the Stockholm explosions.
It said the threat was linked to Sweden's presence with Nato in Afghanistan, where it has a force of 500 soldiers, mainly in the north.
TT said the warning, which was also sent to Sweden's Security Police, was received 10 minutes before the blasts, and also referred to caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed by Swedish artist Lars Vilks.
The email had sound files in Swedish and Arabic.
"Our actions will speak for themselves, as long as you do not end your war against Islam and humiliation of the Prophet and your stupid support for the pig Vilks," TT quoted a man as saying in one of the sound files.
Police spokeswoman Petra Sjolander said the first explosion had been in a car containing gas canisters.
Media reported scenes of panic among teeming Christmas shoppers, with people fleeing amid smoke and the smell of explosives.
Vilks depicted the Prophet with the body of a dog in a cartoon in 2007, however most Muslims consider any depiction of the founder of Islam as offensive.
A short message commenting on the terror attacks was posted on Vilks' website late on December 11.
Last March, an American who called herself "JihadJane" was charged with plotting to kill Vilks and using the Internet to enlist co-conspirators.
In May, arsonists tried to set fire to Vilks' house.
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