A 10-year-old girl has been rushed to the hospital after being stabbed by a man in the Swedish city of Gothenburg on Thursday at lunchtime.
The incident occurred shortly after noon in Brunnsparken, a central square in the city, when the girl was approached by her assailant who stabbed her in the stomach, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported.
A 65-year-old woman believed to be a relative of the girl was also injured in the attack, and both victims were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Police sources told the broadcaster the girl’s condition is serious but stable, while the woman is believed to have suffered minor injuries.
A 35-year-old man was reportedly apprehended by members of the public at the scene. He was subsequently arrested by Swedish police on suspicion of attempted murder.
Photos circulating on social media purport to show the suspect being ushered into the back of a police car.
Hans-Jörgen Ostler, the police’s press spokesperson, told local media the authorities are grateful to “members of the public who managed to arrest the person at the scene. The police were on the scene shortly afterward and were able to take over this arrest,” he added.
“Whether they have any relationship is unclear at the moment,” Ostler said when asked if the assailant knew his victims.
He added that police had not ruled out other perpetrators, but do not believe anyone else was involved in the incident.
“We do not know why this has happened and do not have a motive for this at the moment,” said Peter Adlersson, another press spokesperson for the West regional police.
SVT reported that two tram stops in the area have been cordoned off by police, who are now conducting an investigation and talking with witnesses.
Police refused to confirm whether they had recovered a knife used in the attack.
“We have certain attachments, I cannot say exactly what they are,” said Ostler.
Firas Moussa, 22, who works near to where the arrest took place told Göteborgs-Posten: “We heard sirens and went out to check. Then there were a hell of a lot of police there.
“It is terrible. Right outside us, they have cordoned off the area so that you can barely enter our office. We usually walk outside here every day. It is sick,” he added.
