Suspected bomber arrested after lightning strikes in Stockholm

Suspected bomber arrested after lightning strikes in Stockholm

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A man suspected of the explosions at Södermalm and in Kista has been arrested.

A burnt-out car has been noticed in both explosions and also in several shootings, according to information.

A total of 16 people have been detained in Stockholm police raids over the past 24 hours.

During Thursday, the police raided several addresses in the Stockholm area and in Sundsvall.

The lightning strikes led to the arrest of seven people in Sundsvall and 16 people in the Stockholm area – including a man linked to the explosion at a restaurant on Södermalm in Stockholm and the explosion at an office hotel in Kista.

Earlier this week, three people were also arrested who are suspected of the crime in Kista.

– The preliminary investigation of both of these events is in an intensive stage and neither the police nor the prosecutor can, in addition to this, make any further comments about the investigation at this time, says Chamber prosecutor Carl Mellberg, in a press release.

The man who is suspected of involvement in both explosions can also be linked to shootings in Stockholm, according to information.

The police have previously found a burned-out car in a municipality outside Stockholm that was of interest to the investigation. According to information, that car must have been used in the explosions on Södermalm and in Kista.

The witnesses must also have observed the same car in connection with the shootings in Huvudsta and Fruängen, according to information to Aftonbladet.

Details: The police fear more murders

Thursday’s raids also led to the police seizing weapons and explosives.

At the same time, the police have also secured technical evidence that indicates that more explosions will take place, according to information.

– We are in an intense phase right now. We are very close to the criminal individuals in the environment and judge that in the last 24 hours, but also in the past, we have been able to arrest several people who have been about to commit serious violent crimes, says Hanna Paradis, head of command in the Stockholm region, in a press release.

full screen Explosion at a restaurant on Södermalm on January 17. Photo: JERKER IVARSSON
full screen The staircase in Kista was destroyed on January 18. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Acts of violence directed at a person

The explosions on Södermalm and in Kista took place barely a day apart earlier in January. According to Aftonbladet’s sources, the target for both explosions is a 24-year-old man who is supposed to be a leader in the drug trade in Sundsvall.

The explosions must have been directed at people in the man’s vicinity, according to information.

– They want to frighten the person through acts against people in his vicinity, says a source.

The police: Strained situation

In the past month, four murders, twelve shootings and thirteen explosions have taken place in the Stockholm area alone.

According to Aftonbladet’s information, several of the crimes are connected to one and the same conflict – the conflict between the 24-year-old, who also has a leadership position in the Dalen network, and the notorious criminal 36-year-old who goes by the name “Kurdish fox” and who is wanted for extensive drug crimes and murder.

The police assess that the level of conflict in the criminal environment is high and are now carrying out extensive work to break the trend. Around 190 police officers have been brought in from different parts of the country to combat the wave of violence.

– The reinforcement we have received is of great help in the strained situation we are in. We are working aggressively to break the trend of violence. The efforts and arrests mean extensive work for our investigative staff in several parts, while we have a large resource out there who are doing their utmost to prevent more serious crimes, says Hanna Paradis.

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