Swedish police intervened near the Royal Palace in central Stockholm on Tuesday evening, shooting a man who, according to initial reports, was behaving aggressively and appeared to be armed. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries that police say are not life-threatening.
Police called over report of armed man
Officers were called to the Royal Palace at around 18:30. The report described a man acting aggressively and carrying a weapon.
The incident occurred in the Lejonbacken area near the Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace). Police subsequently used their service weapon and shot the man.
According to Swedish police, the suspect was detained and transported to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.
What weapon did the man have?
Police have not yet specified the type of weapon the man was carrying. This detail remains under investigation.
The Swedish daily Expressen reported that the man may have approached palace guards with a knife and allegedly told them to shoot him. Police have not immediately confirmed this part of the incident.
The motive for his actions remains unknown.
Police: No danger to the public
Despite the incident occurring in close proximity to the Royal Palace, police stated that there was no danger to the public.
Officers remained at the scene after the shooting to investigate the circumstances of the incident. Police noted that initial reports from the scene may change as the investigation progresses.
The Royal Palace is located in the center of Stockholm and is one of Sweden’s most important tourist and state sites.
Incident follows recent attack in Sweden
This latest intervention comes only a few weeks after a tragic attack at a secondary school in the Swedish city of Fagersta.
In August, an armed 18-year-old attacked several students with a sword. A 17-year-old student was killed and three others injured. Police subsequently reviewed the suspect’s online activity and possible motive for the attack. The sword attack at the school shocked Sweden.
However, according to available information, today’s incident at the Royal Palace is not connected with that case.
Police have yet to release further details
Investigators are now working to determine the exact sequence of events and the circumstances that led police to use their weapon.
It is not yet known what the man did prior to the incident, where he came from, or what his motive was. It is also unconfirmed whether this was an attempted attack on the guards or some other form of dangerous behavior.
Further police statements about the weapon used and the response are expected.
Such police interventions highlight the difficulty of assessing security threats in busy public areas. When notified of an armed individual, responding officers must react to situations that could pose an immediate risk to people nearby.
Aktualizovane.sk previously reported another case where an initial report of an armed man prompted a large police operation, yet later investigation revealed different circumstances.
What we know so far
- Police received a call at about 18:30,
- The incident took place at the Royal Palace in central Stockholm,
- The man was reportedly behaving aggressively and was armed,
- Police used their service weapon against him,
- The man was shot and taken to hospital,
- He sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries according to police,
- The type of weapon he carried has not yet been disclosed,
- His motive remains unknown,
- Police state there was no danger to the public.
ALSO READ
Tragic incident in Stockholm: bus collides with people at a stop
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
