STOCKHOLM (AP) – A man armed with an ax attacked and wounded eight people on Wednesday in the southern Swedish city before being shot and arrested, police said.
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said a possible terrorist motive was being investigated.
“In light of what has emerged so far in the police investigation, prosecutors have initiated a preliminary investigation into terrorist offenses,” he said but did not go into depth.
Shortly after his statement, investigators at a police press conference said they had initiated a preliminary investigation into an assassination attempt, with details “that make us investigate any terrorist motive.”
“But at the moment I can’t go into details,” regional police chief Malena Grann said.
Police said the man in his twenties attacked people in the small town of Vetlanda, about 190 kilometers (118 miles) southeast of Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city. His motive was not immediately known.
The man was shot by police, who said the condition of the assailants and the perpetrator was not immediately known. Officials did not provide the identity of the suspect, who was taken to hospital.
Local police chief Jonas Lindell said “it looks like the injuries are not life-threatening,” but could not give further details.
The incident took place in central Vetlanda and police said they received calls shortly after 1400 GMT about a man attacking people with an ax. Police also said there are five crime scenes in this city, about 13,000.
Lofven condemned “this terrible act” and added that the Swedish national security agency SAPO was also working on the case.
“They are continuously assessing whether there are grounds to take security measures and are willing to do so if necessary,” he said in a statement.