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Terrorism

Sweden to stop for one minute

April 9, 2017

Sweden has held a nationwide minute of silence to honor the victims of the truck attack in Stockholm. Two suspects have been arrested so far, one of them a rejected asylum seeker from Uzbekistan.

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Schweden Schweigeminute in Stockholm
Image: Reuters/C. Olsson

All public life in Sweden halted for one minute at noon local time Monday as the nation remembered four victims killed in the suspected terror attack three days ago. 

The victims included two Swedes, one Briton and a Belgian national, who were killed when a rejected asylum seeker drove a stolen beer truck through a crowd in a pedestrian shopping street in downtown Stockholm. 

Schweden Nach dem Anschlag in Stockholm
Image: Getty Images/M. Campanella

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told a crowd gathered in front of Stockholm City Hall that the countries of the four people killed had all witnessed "horrendous acts of terrorism, but we have also seen the strength and determination and power of our democratic societies."

"We will never surrender to terror. We will get through this together," Lofven said.

Of the 15 injured, 10 remain in hospitals, including a child. At least four of the 10 are considered to be seriously injured.

Thousands of people gathered in central Stockholm on Sunday for a vigil against terrorism and to honor the attack victims.

'Interest for extremist organizations'

The main suspect in the attack is a 39-year-old asylum seeker from Uzbekistan who went underground after his application was rejected last year.

While authorities have not named the suspect, Stockholm District Court papers identified him as Rakhmat Akilov.

Akilov, who was arrested hours after the attack, is being held in custody on suspicion of terrorism related offenses. 

Police commissioner Dan Eliasson said Monday he was "very confident" they had the right man based on evidence gathered and interviews with the suspect. 

"It is up to a prosecutor to prove this in court," he told a news conference.

Authorities believe Akilov expressed interest in militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.

"We know that he showed interest for extremist organizations like the 'Islamic State,'" said Swedish police chief Jonas Hysing.

The style of the attack resembled other IS-inspired terror attacks, including ramming attacks in Germany, France and Britain.  

Swedish media reported Akilov worked in construction and has four children. 

Meanwhile, Swedish police arrested a second suspect accused of involvement in the attack.

"Police have arrested a person and we appointed a public defender," said Helga Hullmann, a judge at the Stockholm District Court.

Four other people questioned about the attack have been released.   

cw/kms (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)