Sweden truck attack suspect identified

STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s prosecution authority said on Monday it had asked a judge to extend the detention in prison of Rakhmat Akilov, the main suspect in Friday’s truck attack in Stockholm which killed four and injured 15.

The judge will rule on the request on Tuesday. Prosecutors had until Tuesday lunchtime to request further detention of the 39-year-old Uzbek or release him.

“An application for a detention order has been made concerning the man who was arrested on Saturday morning suspected on probable cause for terrorist crimes through murder,” the prosecution authority said in a statement.

The court application was the first official document that formally named Akilov.

Media reports said he had confessed, claiming he had been ordered by the Islamic State group to carry out the attack against “infidels”.

Court documents also showed Akilov had asked to replace his court-appointed lawyer and that his request had been denied.

MINUTE OF SILENCE FOR TRUCK ATTACK VICTIMS

Swedes observed a minute of silence across the country on Monday for the victims of last week’s truck attack in Stockholm

A huge crowd gathered outside the Ahlens department store at the corner of the Drottninggatan pedestrian street, where a stolen beer truck mowed down shoppers before ploughing into the store’s facade, killing four people and injuring 15. Under grey and rainy skies, the crowd observed a minute of silence at noon .