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{{Short description|2015 attack in Sweden}}
{{Infobox civilian attack {{Infobox civilian attack
| title = 2015 Ikea murders | title = 2015 IKEA stabbing attack
| partof = | partof =
| image = | image = File:Erikslund Shopping Center location map - 01.png
| image_size = | image_size =
| alt = | alt =
| caption = | caption = Location within ]
| map = | map =
| map_size = | map_size =
| map_alt = | map_alt =
| map_caption = | map_caption =
| location = ], Sweden | location = ], Sweden
| target = ]-looking people<ref name="vlt_21oct2015"/>
| target =
| coordinates = {{coord|59|36|32.9|N|16|27|16.9|E|region:SE_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates =
| date = <!-- {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD}}-<br />{{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | date = August 10, 2015
| time = | time =
| timezone = | timezone =
| type = | type = Stabbing
| fatalities = 2 | fatalities = 2
| injuries = | injuries = 1 (the perpetrator)
| victims = <!-- or | victim = --> | victims = <!-- or | victim = -->
| perp = Abraham Ukbagabir
| perpetrators= <!-- or | perpetrator = --> <!-- alias: | perps = or | perp = -->
| susperps = <!-- or | susperp = --> | susperps = <!-- or | susperp = -->
| weapons = | weapons = Knife
| numparts = <!-- or | numpart = --> | numparts = <!-- or | numpart = -->
| dfens = <!-- or | dfen = --> | dfens = <!-- or | dfen = -->
| motive = | motive = Revenge for being denied asylum in Sweden
| website = <!-- URL|example.com}} --> | website = <!-- URL|example.com}} -->
}} }}

On August 10, 2015 two people were stabbed to death in an ] store in the ] in ], ] in what have been described as an apparent random attack.<ref name="expressen-1">{{cite news|last1=Lundberg|first1=Angelica|last2=Malmgren|first2=Kim|last3=Hellberg|first3=Magnus|last4=Reinholdsson|first4=Hanna|last5=Lennander|first5=Fredrik|title=Två dödade i en knivattack på Ikea|url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/ikea-varuhus-i-vasteras-avsparrat/|accessdate=24 August 2015|work=]|publisher=]|date=10 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> The stabbing attracted world-wide attention.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Edström|first1=Anders|last2=Enbäck|first2=Johanna|title=Hans film från gripandet sprids världen över|url=http://vlt.se/nyheter/vasteras/1.3108491-hans-film-fran-gripandet-sprids-varlden-over|accessdate=24 August 2015|date=14 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> The '''2015 IKEA stabbing attack''' occurred on 10 August when Abraham Ukbagabir fatally stabbed two people in an ] store at the ] in ], ], as revenge for not being granted asylum in Sweden.<ref name="expressen-1">{{cite news|last1=Lundberg|first1=Angelica|last2=Malmgren|first2=Kim|last3=Hellberg|first3=Magnus|last4=Reinholdsson|first4=Hanna|last5=Lennander|first5=Fredrik|title=Två dödade i en knivattack på Ikea|url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/ikea-varuhus-i-vasteras-avsparrat/|access-date=24 August 2015|work=]|publisher=]|date=10 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> The stabbing attracted worldwide attention.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Edström|first1=Anders|last2=Enbäck|first2=Johanna|title=Hans film från gripandet sprids världen över|url=http://vlt.se/nyheter/vasteras/1.3108491-hans-film-fran-gripandet-sprids-varlden-over|publisher=]|access-date=24 August 2015|date=14 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref><ref name=MillerMearRefugees>{{cite news | last1 = Miller | first1 = Michael | title = In Sweden's Ikea attack, two migrants, two slayings and rampant fear of refugees| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/29/in-swedens-ikea-attack-two-migrants-two-murders-and-rampant-fear-of-refugees/ | access-date = 30 September 2015| work = ] | date = 29 September 2015}}</ref> Ukbagabir was convicted of two ] charges and ] in December 2015.


==Attack== ==Attack==
The perpetrator reportedly took a knife from the kitchenware department at IKEA in Västerås, and appears to have attacked two random victims;<ref name=MillerIkea>{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Michael|title=‘Mad’ stabbings turn Ikea store in Sweden into a house of horrors|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/08/11/mad-stabbings-turn-ikea-store-in-sweden-into-a-house-of-horrors/|accessdate=23 August 2015|publisher=Washington Post|date=11 August 2015}}</ref> a 55-year-old woman and her 28-year-old son, on visit from an village outside of ] in northern Sweden.<ref name=KnivattackenIkea>{{cite news|title=Skellefteborna som föll offer för knivattacken på Ikea|url=http://norran.se/nyheter/blaljus-nyheter/skellefteborna-som-dodades-vid-knivdadet-pa-ikea-436316|accessdate=23 August 2015|publisher=Norran|date=11 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=HellerudArrested>{{cite news|last1=Hellerud|first1=Emil|title=Swedish police: 2 arrested in IKEA stabbings were asylum-seekers|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/11/europe/sweden-ikea-stabbings/|accessdate=23 August 2015|publisher=CNN|date=11 August 2015}}</ref> The attack was not caught on any ], but according to eyewitness accounts made to the '']'' newspaper, the attacker stabbed the 55-year-old woman in her stomach. Her son died from wounds inflicted by the perpetrator when he tried to fend off the attack. The perpetrator then proceeded to stab himself in the stomach.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Eriksson|first1=Niklas|last2=Aschberg|first2=Richard|title=Nya uppgifter om Ikeamorden: Så gick attacken till|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21246519.ab|accessdate=24 August 2015|work=]|date=12 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> The ] were initially silent about the case, which is standard during criminal investigations in Sweden to prevent potential contamination of evidence, such as witness testimony.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mederyd Hårdh|first1=Martin|title="Rykten väcker förskräckliga krafter till liv"|url=http://www.svd.se/ryktesspridning-vacker-forskrackliga-krafter-till-liv/i/utvalt/om/knivattacken-pa-ikea|accessdate=24 August 2015|work=]|publisher=]|date=13 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> Information usually only becomes public after indictment, when the preliminary investigation is finished.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sekretess under pågående förundersökning|url=http://www.aklagare.se/Aklagarens-roll/Forundersokningen/Sekretess-under-pagaende-forundersokning/|publisher=]|accessdate=24 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> A spokesperson for the police did however say that incident did not appear to have been an act of terrorism, and it did not have an obvious political or religious motive.<ref name=MillerIkea /> The perpetrator, Abraham Ukbagabir, a 36-year-old ],<ref name=MillerMearRefugees/> took a knife from the kitchenware department at IKEA in Västerås and began looking for Swedish-looking people to attack.<ref name="vlt_21oct2015">{{cite news |date=21 October 2015 |title=Mördarens val av offer: "De såg svenska ut" |publisher=Vestmanlands Läns Tidning |url=https://www.vlt.se/2015-10-21/mordarens-val-av-offer-de-sag-svenska-ut |access-date=11 September 2013}}</ref> He attacked two victims;<ref name=MillerIkea>{{cite news|last1=Miller|first1=Michael|title='Mad' stabbings turn Ikea store in Sweden into a house of horrors|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/08/11/mad-stabbings-turn-ikea-store-in-sweden-into-a-house-of-horrors/|access-date=23 August 2015|work=Washington Post|date=11 August 2015}}</ref> Carola Herlin (55) and her son Emil Herlin (28). The victims were on a visit from their hometown outside of ] in northern Sweden.<ref name=KnivattackenIkea>{{cite news|title=Skellefteborna som föll offer för knivattacken på Ikea|url=http://norran.se/nyheter/blaljus-nyheter/skellefteborna-som-dodades-vid-knivdadet-pa-ikea-436316|access-date=23 August 2015|publisher=Norran|date=11 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=HellerudArrested>{{cite news|last1=Hellerud|first1=Emil|title=Swedish police: 2 arrested in IKEA stabbings were asylum-seekers|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/11/europe/sweden-ikea-stabbings/|access-date=23 August 2015|publisher=CNN|date=11 August 2015}}</ref> The attack was not caught on any ], but according to eyewitness accounts made to the '']'' newspaper, the attacker stabbed the mother in her stomach. Her son died from wounds inflicted by the perpetrator when he tried to fend off the attack. The perpetrator then proceeded to stab himself in the stomach.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Eriksson|first1=Niklas|last2=Aschberg|first2=Richard|title=Nya uppgifter om Ikeamorden: Så gick attacken till|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21246519.ab|access-date=24 August 2015|work=]|date=12 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref>
] were silent about the case, which is standard procedure during criminal investigations in Sweden to prevent potential contamination of evidence, such as witness testimony.<ref name="svd-Mederyd">{{cite news|last1=Mederyd Hårdh|first1=Martin|title=Rykten väcker förskräckliga krafter till liv|url=http://www.svd.se/ryktesspridning-vacker-forskrackliga-krafter-till-liv/i/utvalt/om/knivattacken-pa-ikea|access-date=24 August 2015|work=]|publisher=]|date=13 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> Information usually only becomes public after indictment, when the preliminary investigation is finished.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sekretess under pågående förundersökning|url=http://www.aklagare.se/Aklagarens-roll/Forundersokningen/Sekretess-under-pagaende-forundersokning/|publisher=]|access-date=24 August 2015|language=Swedish|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825195515/http://www.aklagare.se/Aklagarens-roll/Forundersokningen/Sekretess-under-pagaende-forundersokning/|archive-date=25 August 2015}}</ref> A spokesperson for the police did however say that incident did not appear to have been an act of terrorism, and it did not have an obvious political or religious motive.<ref name=MillerIkea />


==Perpetrator== ==Perpetrator==
The perpetrator, a 36-year-old man from Eritrea, confessed to the murder three days after the attack.<ref name="expressen-1" /><ref name=ABCConfesses>{{cite news|title=Eritrean Suspect Confesses to Ikea Stabbing in Sweden|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eritrean-suspect-confesses-ikea-stabbing-33060406|accessdate=23 August 2015|agency=AP|publisher=ABC News|date=13 August 2015}}</ref> According to sources at the temporary accommodation he was staying at, the main suspect had lived in ] two to three months prior to his arrival in Sweden, where he had worked as a fisherman. He had been denied asylum in Sweden just hours before the attack, and was scheduled for deportation back to Italy, where he had acquired a residence permit.<ref name="expressen-1" /><ref name=ScheduledforDeportation>{{cite news|title=Suspect in Ikea knife attack was Eritrean, due to be deported|url=http://www.dw.com/en/suspect-in-ikea-knife-attack-was-eritrean-due-to-be-deported/a-18646358|accessdate=23 August 2015|publisher=DW|date=13 August 2013}}</ref> His 23-year-old companion, also Eritrean, was initially held on accessory to murder, but later released for lack of evidence.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hellberg|first1=Magnus|last2=Lennander|first2=Fredrik|last3=Ronge|first3=Johan|title=23-åringen släpps fri för Ikea-morden|url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/bada-begars-haktade-for-ikeamorden/|accessdate=24 August 2015|work=]|publisher=]|date=13 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> '''Abraham Ukbagabir''' (born 25 February 1979) confessed to the attack, three days later, in a court hearing via telephone from his hospital bed.<ref name="expressen-1" /><ref name=ABCConfesses>{{cite news|title=Eritrean Suspect Confesses to Ikea Stabbing in Sweden|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/eritrean-suspect-confesses-ikea-stabbing-33060406|access-date=23 August 2015|agency=AP|work=ABC News|date=13 August 2015}}</ref> According to sources at the temporary accommodation he was staying at, Ukbagabir had lived in ] two to three months prior to his arrival in Sweden, where he had worked as a fisherman. He had been denied asylum in Sweden just hours before the attack, and was scheduled for deportation back to Italy, where he had acquired a residence permit.<ref name="expressen-1" /><ref name=ScheduledforDeportation>{{cite news|title=Suspect in Ikea knife attack was Eritrean, due to be deported|url=http://www.dw.com/en/suspect-in-ikea-knife-attack-was-eritrean-due-to-be-deported/a-18646358|access-date=23 August 2015|publisher=DW|date=13 August 2013}}</ref> His 23-year-old companion, also Eritrean, was initially arrested as an accessory to murder, but later released.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hellberg|first1=Magnus|last2=Lennander|first2=Fredrik|last3=Ronge|first3=Johan|title=23-åringen släpps fri för Ikea-morden|url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/bada-begars-haktade-for-ikeamorden/|access-date=24 August 2015|work=]|publisher=]|date=13 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> On August 31, 2015, the companion was cleared of all charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/atalstiden-for-morden-pa-ikea-forlangs/|title=Expressen: Åtalstiden för morden på Ikea förlängs|work=Expressen|date=1 September 2015|access-date=3 August 2016}}</ref>


Ukbagabir remained for a period in hospital, watched by security guards, prison officers and under police surveillance. The ] ordered that he should undergo a full ]. The police expected to interview up to 600 people.<ref>{{cite news | last1 = Sannemalm | first1 = Ann-Sofie | title = På polisens lista: 600 förhör| url = http://vlt.se/nyheter/vasteras/1.3130960-pa-polisens-lista-600-forhor | access-date = 31 August 2015 | publisher = ] | date = 29 August 2015|page=Swedish}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lisinski|first1=Stefan|title=Misstänkt för knivattacken på Ikea ska psykundersökas|url=http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/misstankt-for-knivattacken-pa-ikea-ska-psykundersokas/|access-date=31 August 2015|publisher=]|date=25 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref>
==Impact==
The Västerås Ikea temporarily suspended the sale of knives out of concern for the staff.<ref name=ScheduledforDeportation/><ref name="AftonbladetStop">{{cite news | url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21239918.ab | title=Ikea stoppar sin knivförsäljning | work=Aftonbladet | date=11 August 2015 | accessdate=24 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref>


In October 2015, Ukbagabir was found guilty of two ]s and was ], as well as permanent ]. ] confirmed the sentence in December 2015. Ukbagabir told in court that he felt treated unfairly when his appeal for asylum was rejected and he decided to kill someone as revenge.<ref>{{cite web|first=Magnus|last=Hellberg|date=21 December 2015|url=http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/abraham-ukbagabir-far-livstids-fangelse/|title=Abraham Ukbagabir får livstids fängelse|work=Expressen|access-date=3 August 2016}}</ref>
The attack is said to have contributed to producing a major uptick in support for the ] Party, which pledges to limit immigration.<ref name=Dickson>{{cite news|last1=Dickson|first1=Daniel|title=Anti-immigration Sweden Democrats country's largest party - poll|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/08/20/uk-sweden-politics-poll-idUKKCN0QP0Q120150820|accessdate=23 August 2015|publisher=Reuters|date=20 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=MilneImmigration>{{cite news|last1=Milne|first1=Richard|title=Anti-immigration Sweden Democrats become country’s largest party|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d144b594-4703-11e5-b3b2-1672f710807b.html#axzz3kKVGZKCN|accessdate=30 August 2015|publisher=Financial Times|date=20 August 2015}}</ref> The Ikea murders have added to other highly-publicized crimes involving immigrants and a series of gang-rivalry murders by immigrant gangsters in several cities, most notably ], to produce increasing concern among Swedish voters about Sweden's long-standing policy of accepting large numbers of immigrants.<ref name=MillerIkea/><ref name=MilneImmigration/><ref name=Shapiro>{{cite news|last1=Shapiro|first1=Ari|title=Sweden's Immigrant Influx Unleashes A Backlash|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/02/05/384096505/swedens-immigrant-influx-unleashes-a-backlash|accessdate=30 August 2015|publisher=NPR|date=5 February 2015}}</ref><ref name=MilneImmigration/><ref name=CrouhMalmo>{{cite news|last1=Crouch|first1=David|title=Grenade attacks shock Swedish city|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f6930928-4658-11e5-b3b2-1672f710807b.html#axzz3kKVGZKCN|accessdate=30 August 2015|publisher=Financial Times|date=23 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=Fraser>{{cite news|last1=Fraser|first1=Nelson|title=The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats are now the no1 force in Sweden, polls show|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/08/the-anti-immigration-sweden-democrats-are-now-the-no1-party-in-sweden-polls-show/|accessdate=30 August 2015|publisher=Spectator|date=20 August 2015}}</ref>

While in prison, Ukbagabir was attacked and injured by fellow prisoners on multiple occasions requiring hospital care.<ref name="aftonbladet_10October2016">{{cite news|title=Ikea-mördaren misshandlad igen|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article23688449.ab|access-date=10 October 2016|publisher=]|date=10 October 2016}}</ref>

==Reactions==
Following the attack, the Västerås IKEA temporarily closed and then suspended the sale of knives out of concern for the staff.<ref name=ScheduledforDeportation/><ref name="AftonbladetStop">{{cite news | url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21239918.ab | title=Ikea stoppar sin knivförsäljning | work=Aftonbladet | date=11 August 2015 | access-date=24 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref> Rumours about the attack ran rampant on ]. A particularly widespread rumour was that the perpetrator was ] and had been heard shouting "'']''" after ] the victims. The police refused to address any rumours, citing confidentiality during the preliminary investigation.<ref name="svd-Mederyd" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Källkritiken är viktigare än någonsin|url=http://www.svd.se/kallkritiken-ar-viktigare-an-nagonsin|publisher=]|access-date=31 August 2015|language=Swedish|date=15 August 2015}}</ref> This led to a debate about Swedish ] and lack of references in news based on race and religion versus the ] and their lack of ethics.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Aktuellt: Är medierna för återhållsamma? |trans-title= |url= http://www.svt.se/nyhetsklipp/nyheter/article3188398.svt |series = ] |access-date= 31 August 2015 |network= ] |date= 18 August 2015 |language= Swedish}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |last=Swahn |first=Isabelle |title=Het debatt efter dubbelmordet på Ikea |trans-title= |url= http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6240831 |series = Radio Sweden |access-date= 31 August 2015 |network= ] |date= 26 August 2015 |language= Swedish}}</ref>

On August 13, three days after the attack, the police were forced to break up an illegal demonstration outside the asylum centre where the two men linked to the murders had lived. A group of about ten men carrying symbols of an ] youth organization held anti-immigration placards, shouted ] slogans and threw eggs at the building.<ref>{{cite news|title=Demonstration vid Kallstensgården|url=http://www.vlt.se/allmant/demonstration-vid-kallstensgarden|access-date=31 August 2015|date=13 August 2015|publisher=]|language=Swedish}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Demonstration vid Kallstensgården|url=http://bblat.se/nyheter/arboga/1.3107837-demonstration-vid-kallstensgarden|publisher=]|access-date=31 August 2015|language=Swedish|date=13 August 2015}}</ref> Two days later, the asylum centre closed down after police found two bags of flammable liquid nearby.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kihlström|first1=Staffan|last2=Lagerwall|first2=Katarina|title=Brandfarlig vätska hittad vid asylboende|url=http://www.dn.se/arkiv/nyheter/brandfarlig-vatska-hittad-vid-asylboende|access-date=31 August 2015|publisher=]|date=16 August 2015|language=Swedish}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
{{see also|European migrant crisis|Immigration and crime}}
The murders came at a time when public debate on questions of immigration and immigrant integration were becoming increasingly heated in Sweden, Scandinavia, and all of Europe.<ref name=MillerMearRefugees/><ref name=BilefskiIkea>{{cite news|last1=Bilefski|first1=Dan|title=Swedish Police, Accused of Cover-Up, Look Into Reports of Sex Assault at Festival|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/world/europe/swedish-police-coverup-sexual-assault.html|access-date=12 January 2016|work=New York Times|date=11 January 2016}}</ref> In the immediate aftermath of the murders, online rumors flew about possible Islamic motivations of the perpetrators, but Eva Morén, assistant prosecutor for the Västmanland District Court, told '']'' that both Ukbagabir and Mahari are Christian.<ref name=MillerMearRefugees/>

] MP ] referenced the Ikea murders in a Facebook post and called on Swedes to consign their long-standing "sjuklöverns" ("seven-clover", disparaging term for the ]) approach to immigration to the "trash heap."<ref name=MillerMearRefugees/><ref name="SöderKritiseras">{{cite news|title=Björn Söder kritiseras för inlägg om Ikeadådet|url=http://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/bjorn-soder-kritiseras-for-inlagg-om-ikeadadet/|access-date=31 August 2015|publisher=DN.se|date=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=Lapidus>{{cite news|last1=Lapidus|first1=Arne|title=Näthetsen efter tragedin i Västerås|url=https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/nathetsen-efter-tragedin-i-vasteras/|access-date=31 August 2015|publisher=Expressen|date=13 August 2015}}</ref> Some MPs from other parties accused him of using the Ikea stabbings to push an anti-migrant agenda and raised questions about his fitness to serve as ].<ref name="KritikenMotSöders">{{cite news|title=Kritiken mot Söders inlägg: "Osmakligt"|url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article21249681.ab|access-date=31 August 2015|publisher=Aftonbladet|date=13 August 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sweden}}
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==References== ==References==
{{reflist|30em}} {{reflist|30em}}


{{Mass stabbings in the 2010s}}
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Latest revision as of 14:38, 4 December 2024

2015 attack in Sweden
2015 IKEA stabbing attack
Location within Västerås
LocationVästerås, Sweden
Coordinates59°36′32.9″N 16°27′16.9″E / 59.609139°N 16.454694°E / 59.609139; 16.454694
DateAugust 10, 2015
TargetSwedish-looking people
Attack typeStabbing
WeaponsKnife
Deaths2
Injured1 (the perpetrator)
PerpetratorAbraham Ukbagabir
MotiveRevenge for being denied asylum in Sweden

The 2015 IKEA stabbing attack occurred on 10 August when Abraham Ukbagabir fatally stabbed two people in an IKEA store at the Erikslund Shopping Center in Västerås, Sweden, as revenge for not being granted asylum in Sweden. The stabbing attracted worldwide attention. Ukbagabir was convicted of two first degree murder charges and sentenced to life in prison in December 2015.

Attack

The perpetrator, Abraham Ukbagabir, a 36-year-old Eritrean Christian, took a knife from the kitchenware department at IKEA in Västerås and began looking for Swedish-looking people to attack. He attacked two victims; Carola Herlin (55) and her son Emil Herlin (28). The victims were on a visit from their hometown outside of Skellefteå in northern Sweden. The attack was not caught on any surveillance cameras, but according to eyewitness accounts made to the Aftonbladet newspaper, the attacker stabbed the mother in her stomach. Her son died from wounds inflicted by the perpetrator when he tried to fend off the attack. The perpetrator then proceeded to stab himself in the stomach.

Swedish police were silent about the case, which is standard procedure during criminal investigations in Sweden to prevent potential contamination of evidence, such as witness testimony. Information usually only becomes public after indictment, when the preliminary investigation is finished. A spokesperson for the police did however say that incident did not appear to have been an act of terrorism, and it did not have an obvious political or religious motive.

Perpetrator

Abraham Ukbagabir (born 25 February 1979) confessed to the attack, three days later, in a court hearing via telephone from his hospital bed. According to sources at the temporary accommodation he was staying at, Ukbagabir had lived in Italy two to three months prior to his arrival in Sweden, where he had worked as a fisherman. He had been denied asylum in Sweden just hours before the attack, and was scheduled for deportation back to Italy, where he had acquired a residence permit. His 23-year-old companion, also Eritrean, was initially arrested as an accessory to murder, but later released. On August 31, 2015, the companion was cleared of all charges.

Ukbagabir remained for a period in hospital, watched by security guards, prison officers and under police surveillance. The district court ordered that he should undergo a full psychiatric assessment. The police expected to interview up to 600 people.

In October 2015, Ukbagabir was found guilty of two first degree murders and was sentenced to life, as well as permanent extradition. Svea Court of Appeal confirmed the sentence in December 2015. Ukbagabir told in court that he felt treated unfairly when his appeal for asylum was rejected and he decided to kill someone as revenge.

While in prison, Ukbagabir was attacked and injured by fellow prisoners on multiple occasions requiring hospital care.

Reactions

Following the attack, the Västerås IKEA temporarily closed and then suspended the sale of knives out of concern for the staff. Rumours about the attack ran rampant on social media. A particularly widespread rumour was that the perpetrator was Somali and had been heard shouting "Allahu Akbar" after decapitating the victims. The police refused to address any rumours, citing confidentiality during the preliminary investigation. This led to a debate about Swedish journalism ethics and lack of references in news based on race and religion versus the alternative media and their lack of ethics.

On August 13, three days after the attack, the police were forced to break up an illegal demonstration outside the asylum centre where the two men linked to the murders had lived. A group of about ten men carrying symbols of an extreme-right wing youth organization held anti-immigration placards, shouted anti-Arab slogans and threw eggs at the building. Two days later, the asylum centre closed down after police found two bags of flammable liquid nearby.

Aftermath

See also: European migrant crisis and Immigration and crime

The murders came at a time when public debate on questions of immigration and immigrant integration were becoming increasingly heated in Sweden, Scandinavia, and all of Europe. In the immediate aftermath of the murders, online rumors flew about possible Islamic motivations of the perpetrators, but Eva Morén, assistant prosecutor for the Västmanland District Court, told The Washington Post that both Ukbagabir and Mahari are Christian.

Sweden Democrats MP Björn Söder referenced the Ikea murders in a Facebook post and called on Swedes to consign their long-standing "sjuklöverns" ("seven-clover", disparaging term for the mainstream parties) approach to immigration to the "trash heap." Some MPs from other parties accused him of using the Ikea stabbings to push an anti-migrant agenda and raised questions about his fitness to serve as second deputy speaker of the Riksdag.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Mördarens val av offer: "De såg svenska ut"". Vestmanlands Läns Tidning. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  2. ^ Lundberg, Angelica; Malmgren, Kim; Hellberg, Magnus; Reinholdsson, Hanna; Lennander, Fredrik (10 August 2015). "Två dödade i en knivattack på Ikea". Expressen (in Swedish). Bonnier. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  3. Edström, Anders; Enbäck, Johanna (14 August 2015). "Hans film från gripandet sprids världen över" (in Swedish). Vestmanlands Läns Tidning. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  4. ^ Miller, Michael (29 September 2015). "In Sweden's Ikea attack, two migrants, two slayings and rampant fear of refugees". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  5. ^ Miller, Michael (11 August 2015). "'Mad' stabbings turn Ikea store in Sweden into a house of horrors". Washington Post. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  6. "Skellefteborna som föll offer för knivattacken på Ikea". Norran. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  7. Hellerud, Emil (11 August 2015). "Swedish police: 2 arrested in IKEA stabbings were asylum-seekers". CNN. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  8. Eriksson, Niklas; Aschberg, Richard (12 August 2015). "Nya uppgifter om Ikeamorden: Så gick attacken till". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  9. ^ Mederyd Hårdh, Martin (13 August 2015). "Rykten väcker förskräckliga krafter till liv". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Schibsted. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  10. "Sekretess under pågående förundersökning" (in Swedish). Swedish Prosecution Authority. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  11. "Eritrean Suspect Confesses to Ikea Stabbing in Sweden". ABC News. AP. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  12. ^ "Suspect in Ikea knife attack was Eritrean, due to be deported". DW. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  13. Hellberg, Magnus; Lennander, Fredrik; Ronge, Johan (13 August 2015). "23-åringen släpps fri för Ikea-morden". Expressen (in Swedish). Bonnier Group. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
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  26. Bilefski, Dan (11 January 2016). "Swedish Police, Accused of Cover-Up, Look Into Reports of Sex Assault at Festival". New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  27. "Björn Söder kritiseras för inlägg om Ikeadådet". DN.se. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
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  29. "Kritiken mot Söders inlägg: "Osmakligt"". Aftonbladet. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
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