Knifings ‘likely act of terror’

STOCKHOLM: A man stabbed eight people in the Swedish city of Vetlanda, seriously injuring five of them in what police have called a potential terrorist attack.

The assailant was taken to hospital after being shot in the leg by police as he was taken into custody after the midafternoon attack in the southern city of 13,000 inhabitants.

Police said the man, in his 20s, had used a “sharp weapon”, while local media reported he had brandished a knife.

Police initially treated the incident as “attempted murder” but later changed it in a statement to include a “suspected terrorist crime”, without giving further details.

Three of those attacked were said to have suffered lifethreatening injuries, while two others were in a serious condition in hospital. The other three suffered lighter injuries.

Local police chief Malena Grann said specialist antiterrorism officers were investigating the attacker’s “potential terror motives”.