Security guard ‘shot and killed’ in Swedish prime minister’s house

Published on 09/11/2012 21:41

A SECURITY guard at the Swedish prime minister’s residence in Stockholm was killed yesterday in what appeared to be a self-inflicted shooting, police and Swedish media said.

Police did not immediately reveal how the man was killed, saying they wanted to inform his next of kin, but local reports said the victim died after shooting himself.

Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was not in the building at the time.

Stockholm police spokesman Lars Bystrom said: ““I can say nothing happened to the prime minister. He was not harmed.

“And it wasn’t one of his bodyguards but some security guard. We do not suspect any crime.”

The incident occurred in the early afternoon at the Sagerska Palace, the waterfront home and office of the prime minister. The building is protected by security guards working for a private company, Svensk ­Bevakningstjanst.

spokeswoman Maria Fernsund confirmed that the victim was an employee of the company but declined to give other details.

The prime minister also has bodyguards from the Swedish Security Service. They were not affected by the incident a spokeswoman for the agency said. She added: “At present there is no indication that the incident has any link to the Parliament or government.”

The protection of Sweden’s top politicians was stepped up after the 1986 murder of prime minister Olof Palme and the deadly stabbing of foreign minister Anna Lindh in 2003.

Sweden takes pride in having an open society and government buildings are relatively easy to access.