Wanted suspect in blast found dead in Swedish port – KXAN Austin
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Smoke rises from a building after an explosion in Annedal, central Gothenburg, Sweden on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. A powerful explosion at a building in Sweden’s second largest city has injured up to 20 people and forced the evacuation of hundreds more. A police spokesperson said eight people had been taken to hospital and the cause of the explosion was not yet known. (Bjorn Larsson Rosvall / TT via AP)
STOCKHOLM (AP) – The tenant who is suspected in the massive Swedish building explosion and fire last month that injured 16 people was found dead in the water on Wednesday, police said, adding that she did not suspect any foul play in her death.
The man was found in the port of Goteborg, Sweden’s second largest city, just a few kilometers from the building that exploded on September 28. Authorities said he was on suspicion of attempted murder, arson and general destruction. A manhunt had started in Sweden and abroad for him.
“It’s good that he has been found now, although we were hopeful he was alive,” Senior Police Officer Anders Borjesson said.
Prosecutor Maria Thorell said the investigation into the attempted murder and mass public destruction “to determine the cause of the explosion and investigate whether there are other perpetrators” will continue while the investigation against the suspect will be closed.
Swedish authorities have not named the suspect, a man in his 50s. Swedish media said he was born in Poland.
Last month an apartment building in Gothenburg was hit by a powerful explosion. The fires that followed spread to several apartments and hundreds of residents were evacuated. Four of the injured are in serious condition and at least 140 apartments have been damaged.
The owner was trying to evict the man and his mother from their apartment in the building, according to the Aftonbladet newspaper. Several Swedish media said an eviction was planned on the day of the explosion.
Aftonbladet said police had already charged the man with several offenses a week before the explosion. The newspaper also reported that after not being allowed to see his mother at a nursing home due to pandemic restrictions, the suspect harassed several people, including the owner of the building.