Police shoot knife-wielding man outside Sweden’s Royal Palace
Police shot a knife-wielding man outside the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, according to local officials and media reports. He was reportedly acting threateningly with a knife and told palace guards to shoot him.
The incident happened Tuesday evening at Lejonbacken, the northern approach to the palace in Stockholm’s Old Town. Police said they were called because a man was acting aggressively with a weapon.
The royal court confirmed to Svenska Dagbladet that the man had behaved threateningly while carrying a knife. Aftonbladet reported that he allegedly told palace guards to shoot him.
Officers first tried unsuccessfully to use a stun gun before shooting the man in the leg with three shots, according to Aftonbladet. Police confirmed that officers fired live ammunition and that the suspect was hit.
Politician Arin Karapet told Svenska Dagbladet that he was traveling toward the Old Town on an electric scooter when he saw a police car near the palace. He heard what he believed were two or three gunshots, followed about 30 to 40 seconds later by the arrival of additional police cars.
The man was taken into custody and transported to a hospital by ambulance. Police later said his injuries were assessed as serious but not life-threatening.
No members of the royal family were at the palace during the shooting, the royal court told Aftonbladet. The palace is the Swedish monarch’s official residence and is used for official events and ceremonies.
Police have opened an investigation into aggravated threats against a public servant and an aggravated violation of Sweden’s knife law. They said there is no danger to the public.
