Two 'Suicide' Explosions In Swedish Capital
3:15am UK, Sunday December 12, 2010
Two explosions killed a man and injured two other people in a busy shopping area in central Stockholm, in a suspected terror attack.
The explosions were described as a "terrorist" action in a Twitter message sent by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
"Most worrying attempt at terrorist attack in crowded part of central Stockholm," Bildt tweeted.
"Failed - but could have been truly catastrophic..." he added.
The two almost simultaneous explosions were a suicide attack, according to SVT television.
It said the only person to die in the attack was the bomber, and a bag filled with nails was found near the body.
Police spokesman Kjell Lindgren said it was possible that the dead man had blown himself up, but this had not been confirmed by investigators.
Lindgren said police were also investigating whether other, unexploded bombs were on the scene.
The TT news agency said it had received an email warning with a threat to Sweden and its people ahead of the Stockholm explosions.
It said the threat was linked to Sweden's presence with Nato in Afghanistan, where it has a force of 500 soldiers, mainly in the north.
A police forensic officer photographs the scene in Stockholm
TT said the warning, which was also sent to Sweden's Security Police, was received 10 minutes before the blasts, and also referred to caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed by Swedish artist Lars Vilks.
The email had sound files in Swedish and Arabic.
"Our actions will speak for themselves, as long as you do not end your war against Islam and humiliation of the Prophet and your stupid support for the pig Vilks," TT quoted a man as saying in one of the sound files.......
