Stockholm attack suspect is Uzbek denied residency in Sweden

Record ID: 572369

  • Title: Stockholm attack suspect is Uzbek denied residency in Sweden
  • Date: 9th April 2017
  • Summary: VARBERG, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (APRIL 8, 2017) (REUTERS) POLICE FORENSIC PERSONNEL LEAVING BUILDING AND WALKING TO VAN, OPENS BOOT POLICE FORENSIC PERSONNEL ENTERING BUILDING, DOOR CLOSING CAMERA OPERATOR FILMING POLICE FORENSIC VAN POLICE FORENSIC PERSONNEL CARRYING PAPER BAGS, ENTERS BUILDING, DOOR CLOSING BUILDING EXTERIOR HJULSTA, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (APRIL 8, 2017) (REUTERS) BUILDING TO WHICH SUSPECT WAS REGISTERED, BUT DID NOT LIVE IN
  • Embargoed: 23rd April 2017 21:35
  • Keywords: Police Sweden Stockholm Uzbek suspect Rakhmat Akilov
  • Location: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
  • City: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
  • Country: Sweden
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026BOGHFR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The arrested man suspected by police of killing four people by ramming a truck into crowds in Stockholm is a 39-year-old from Uzbekistan who had been denied permanent residency in Sweden and who had expressed sympathy for Islamic State.
    Two sources who had worked with the suspect, Rakhmat Akilov, independently identified him to Reuters from images distributed by police as the manhunt got underway on Friday (April 7).
    Two police spokespersons declined to confirm his identity as did the suspect's court-appointed lawyer.
    A former co-worker of Akilov contacted by Reuters said Akilov had never expressed any religious views and also said that the man he shared a flat with near Stockholm was said to be "devastated" to hear Akilov may be responsible for the attack.
    Akilov was detained at around 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Friday in a northern Stockholm suburb hours after police say he hijacked a truck and plowed through a pedestrian shopping street in central Stockholm, killing four and injuring 15.
    Police said he had previously turned up in information gathered by Swedish security services. "He was a marginal character," said Sweden's national police chief Dan Eliasson. He did not figure in any of their investigations immediately prior to the attack.
    Police have also said the suspect had shown sympathies for extremist organizations, including Islamic State and that he was wanted for failing to comply with a deportation order after his application for residency was denied.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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