Anna Lindh dead

[Xandax]

So it happened.

The Swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh has died from her wounds she was inflicted yesteday (local time).

Some person stabbed her several times in a shopping center of a kind near the end of the swedish euro debate and close to the referendum. The police suspect a political motive seeing as Anna LIndh were very active as a pro-euro speaker and the murdere seemed very planned.

In the nordic countries we have always had an openess around our elected politicians but such an attack on a public person and subsequently murder of, will surly be the "beginning" of the end of said openness.

We have had attacks on politicians - mainly rightish/libertarian from leftwing radicals, but all thoese attacks have been "non-violent".
But the swedish murder here will send shockwaves throught the nordic parlements and I'm sure we will see a massive increase in security and slowly move towards the more closed goverments.
(it has almost always been possible to walk in and watch a goverment debate in Denmark).

My heart goes out to the swedish, whom once again have had a very public politician murdered, and I hope that they will catch this murderer. And I hope it isn't politically motivated although everything indicates it.

I haven't found information about wethere or not the swedish referendum will proceed or will be halted, but in the latter case, the murdere and possible allies, have succesfully managed to halt the democratic process in a democratic country.

[dragon wench]

Xandax,
do you have more information? I just did a Google search and all of the relevant headings appear to be in Swedish.

Thanks!

[Xandax]

Well - it seems the Swedish goverment have decided to move on with the euro referendum, wich is a good thing in my oppinion.
It would be terrible if such a murder could halt or even stop democracy.

The referendum is schedueld for sunday.
The "no-side" have had a rather large lead in the polls, with rather large "non-decided" part still, and allthough this no dobut will shift some people to the "yes"-side, I would think it still would be a no. Swedes aren't all that different from us danes. (although I myself am a yes-man when it comes to the euro).

Anna Lindh was a supporter, significant supporter for the "yes"-side.

I've not followed the swedish campaing up to the vote much (except the polls), but from what I've read it has been a fierce campaing, wich is why it is proberly linked to the murder.

They are still searching for the perpetrator, but they haven't released much information yet - it seems strange that he can dissapere from such a public place and still avoid capture.
But so far, what I've heard via danish news, the swedish police haven't linked the murder to any group, and think he has acted on his own. (wich I am not so sure of myself at this time)

My fears with this is the long term effects it will have, the nordic countries are very close in type of goverment and such effects in one country will have effects on us neighbrougering(sp?) countries, especially when I think back to the recent "non-violent" attacks there have been in Denmark against politicians.
People are starting to draw parallels with the murder of the swedish premierminister Oluf Palme back in 86. Lets hope they catch this one.

It is a sad day for democracy in Scandinavia and a sad day for Sweden, indeed.

[Rob-hin]

So histrory repeats itself... how sad.
Wil we ever learn?

[C Elegans]

I agree with Xan that it's a good thing that the referendum will not be postponed.

Anna Lindh was a very outspoken foreign minister, who not only were actively promototing the Euro, but also explicitely supported the Palestinian struggle and publicly critisised the prime minister for not taking a firm stance in the issue. If this was a politically motivated murder, there are several possibilities for what the motive could have been.

According to media, the Swedish police is currently working with the hypothesis that it was a lonely perpertrator. He is described by witnesses as a white, Swedish looking male with brown hair and of average height. Because of the bruatality in the attack, the police believes he has committed violent crimes before. Anna Lindh was attacked in a department store when she was out shopping with a friend. She had no life guards. She was stabbed in the arms, chest and stomach. She died of blood loss at the hospital after 9 hours of surgery. The knife stabs had caused severe internal bleeding.

When I came to work this morning there were lots of police cars and TV teams outside. People were putting flowers outside the clinic were she died.
IMO she was the best foreign minister Sweden has had for many years. She was outspoken, straighforward and very professional. She was highly respected among the Swedish people as well as the business world and other politicians. She was also considered the next leader of the Social Democrate Party and a future prime minister. Personally I do not support the Social Democrate party, but Anna Lindh was one of the few SD politicians I respected.
It's a sad day in Sweden today.

[C Elegans]

Breaking news: The police just arrested a man who fits the witness description. The man obviously behaved aggressively at a public place here in Stockholm. Nothing more is currently known.

The forensic profiling team is currently working with profiling of the perpertrator. In media, there are discussions about a lonely, psychiatrically ill man.

EDIT: The arrested man is now excluded as a possible perpertrator.

[Scayde]

Sincerest Condolances

[C Elegans]

A 35-year old man has just been taken into custody, suspected for the murder of foreign minister Anna Lindh. The 35-year old is a known right-wing extremist with neo-nazi connections has committed a variety of crimes before. The police has understandably not given much information so far. Let's hope it is the right guy.

[Galuf the Dwarf]

My sincere condolences, as well, to the people of Sweden for such a loss. Such a tragedy goes beyond words to me.

[Xandax]

It will be extreemly interesting to hear what the motive was .. if any?
He has, according to my information via danish media via swedish police, connections with the far right extreemist. But it is pretty sketchy information what is released.

If the current guy is the right one and if he speaks .... lets hope so.
The swedish police have 3 days to find evidence to present to the court to find out if they have grounds for jailing him.