Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said a possible ‘terrorist’ motive was being investigated.
A man armed with an ax attacked and wounded eight people in a southern city in Sweden on Wednesday before being shot and arrested.
“We heard a scream from the street. Then we saw a man enter the shop and shout that he had been stabbed, ‘Asa Karlqvist, owner of a florist shop, told the local newspaper Vetlanda-Posten.
“Blood was flowing from his shoulder, so we got towels and put pressure on the wound,” she said.
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said a possible “terrorist” motive was being investigated.
“In light of what has emerged so far in the police investigation, prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into terrorist crimes,” he said.
Shortly after his statement, investigating officers said at a news conference of the police that they had started a preliminary investigation into attempted murder with details “that let us investigate terrorist motives”.
“But at the moment I can not give more details about it,” said Malena Grann, regional head.
According to police, the man and his twenty people attacked in the small town of Vetlanda, 190 km (118 miles) southeast of Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden. His motive is not immediately known.
The man was shot by police, who said the condition of the attack and of the offender is not immediately known. Officials did not provide details about the identity of the suspect who was taken to hospital.
Jonas Lindell, local police chief, said “it appears the injuries are not life-threatening” but could not give further details.
The incident took place in the center of Vetlanda and police said they received calls just after 14:00 GMT about a man who assaulted people with an ax. Police also said there are about five thousand crime scenes in this city.
Lofven condemns ‘this horrific act’ and adds that the local security agency SAPO in Sweden is also working on the case.
“They are continuously assessing whether there are reasons to take safety-enhancing measures and are prepared to do so if necessary,” he said in a statement.