Swedish foreign minister murdered

September 11, 2003 3:36 AM

Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh murdered....
She was shopping in a Stockholm department store when attacked. Lindh was a leading campaigner for Sweden to join the euro monetary system in a referendum which, it has been decided, will go ahead as planned on Sunday.
posted by tomcosgrave (11 comments total)

Damn. I didn't see the earlier post. Matt, sincere apologies, and please delete at your earliest convenience.
posted by tomcosgrave at 3:40 AM on September 11, 2003

Perhaps those who want to talk about this could stay here though, as that other thread is a trainwreck.
posted by dabitch at 3:42 AM on September 11, 2003

Condolences to misteraitch and any other MeFi members who are Swedish citizens or denizens.
posted by madamjujujive at 4:29 AM on September 11, 2003

second dabitch's motion.
posted by taz at 4:57 AM on September 11, 2003

I've been digging in the papers this morning. Heres a terribly babelfished italian one. The oddest thing is that the Swedish media is quite consistent in labelling this "the work of a lone madman" - when if you look at what happened, it's an obvious assassination. She was pushed down and cut three places that do the most damage in terms of blod loss - left wrist included, just like Kelley. Danish and German papers are more inclined to say it's a politically motivated murder. Why does the Swedish media insist that our political killings are done by a lone madman - a popular early theory in the assassination of Olof Palme as well - and not call a spade a spade? Danish papers report that a man is in custody but the police won't say anything more - while in .se they say they have no suspects yet. Release the security footage - half the country wants to get their hands on this guy.

scuse the rambling....
posted by dabitch at 6:28 AM on September 11, 2003

ramble on dabitch, they're good questions. Why not release the security footage?
posted by taz at 6:34 AM on September 11, 2003

It's probably not legal/ethical. A police sketch of the man would be another story. The national papers carried such a sketch after Palmes assassination, and I think that was a first.

spooky shot, Palme and Lindh.

posted by dabitch at 7:23 AM on September 11, 2003

dabitch: Has there been any speculation as to the motive? I've read about Sweden's pending vote about accepting the Euro - does this refer to the currency, or the Union as a whole? As I understand it, Sweden has no plans to leave the E.U. but would like to retain the Kroner rather than switch to the Euro.

And how does this relate to Sweden's tradition of neutrality in world affairs?

Forgive the incessant questions. I'm just interested in what the Swedish perspective on all this is - it's received very little press here in the states.
posted by aladfar at 7:29 AM on September 11, 2003

With the slaying of Palme back in 1986, we lost our second last great individual and profile in international politics. Today we lost our last (...in my humbe opinion, of course).

The reason why an attack on a politician in Sweden can't be a politically motivated or organized crime, is that, officially, such a thing does not exist in Sweden because it's against the very foundation of what we call democracy and on which we build our nation. We, the people, should not have to fear that the leaders we choose to run our country will or might be subject to politically motivated crimes since these leaders, by representing us, are the people.

Once upon a time this might have been true. Most of us became, back in February 1986, painfully aware of that if it ever was the case, it had come to a definite end that night.

I find it just as disturbing as dabitch that Swedish media and our Government, regardless of the very obvious, keep insisting that we are spared.

There's lots at stake catching this guy.

/rant
posted by psychomedia at 7:31 AM on September 11, 2003

dabitch, the Swedish media is not insisting on anything - they obviously seem to be aware that speculation in this case would do more harm than good. There is mention of a man attacking a "Yes" euro promotion poster a few hours before the murder, though.

Regarding the security footage: There is none. NK's cameras does not record anything, there's only live surveillance. Privacy concerns, perhaps.
posted by spazzm at 7:31 AM on September 11, 2003

Also, as someone who has sworn to uphold the democratic government of Sweden with my own life; this is a sad day indeed.
posted by spazzm at 7:45 AM on September 11, 2003