'Lovefest' vigil in Sweden against terror

HUGE crowds gathered in Stockholm for a “Lovefest” vigil against terrorism yesterday, two days after a truck attack that police believe was committed by an Uzbek man interested in jihadist groups.

Stockholm city officials said more than 20 000 people took part in the vigil, organised after a driver mowed down shoppers in a stolen beer truck before slamming into the facade of the bustling Ahlens department store on Friday afternoon.

The motive was not known, but the method resembled previous attacks using vehicles in Nice, Berlin and London, all claimed by Islamic State.

The suspected driver, arrested hours after the attack, has been identified only as a 39-year-old from Uzbekistan who had shown an interest in extremist groups and was facing deportation after his residency permit application was denied, police said.

A second suspect had also been formally placed under arrest over the attack, Stockholm district court judge Helga Hullman said yesterday, revealing no information about him.

Friday’s attack has deeply shocked the usually tranquil Scandinavian nation, which prides itself on its openness and tolerance.

“Fear shall not reign. Terror cannot win,” Stockholm mayor Karin Wanngard told yesterday’s crowd.

Linking arms, under flags flying at half-mast, the crowd held a minute of silence for the victims.

Media reports said the Uzbek, a father of four who worked in construction, did not come across as having been radicalised. “He partied and drank,” one of his friends said.

The family of an 11-year-old Swedish girl have, meanwhile, confirmed she was one of the four people killed in the attack.

The Foreign Office in London confirmed a British man, Chris Bevington, 41,was among the dead, while the Belgian foreign ministry said a Belgian woman had been killed.

The fourth victim was only known to be a Swedish national. Fifteen people were injured, four of whom were in critical condition.

Police had found a suspect device in the cab of the truck. “A technical examination is ongoing, we can’t go into whether it’s a bomb or a flammable device,” one said.

In neighbouring Norway yesterday, police said they had destroyed a suspect “bomb-like” device in the capital Oslo and made one arrest. – AFP