A king and his country

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has spoken to his fellow countrypeople following the attack in central Stockholm on April 7th which killed four people and left fifteen injured. The King of Sweden was in Brazil at the time but returned home immediately. Almost as soon as he landed, Carl XVI Gustaf gave a public statement filled with sadness, comfort and words of determination for the future.

Sweden's king expressed his sympathies, and those of his family, to all those affected by the attack in which a lorry was driven at crowds in a busy shopping area of Stockholm, Drottninggaten. Carl Gustaf said that everyone had been shaken by what had happened but that it was ''hopeful to see the care that people show each other.'' He spoke of the amazing work done by police, ambulance and rescue services in ''minimising the damage'' and he asked his fellow Swedes to remember that there are more people ''who want to help us than who wish us harm.'' He ended his speech with a reminder that Sweden had experienced and overcome other violent incidents in the past and added ''Sweden is, has long been and will continue to be a safe and peaceful country.''

"Vi är alla omskakade av det som hänt. Det är samtidigt hoppfullt att se den omtanke som människor visar varandra. Det visar på kraften i vårt samhälle." Foto: Kungahuset.se

A post shared by Kungahuset (@kungahuset) on Apr 8, 2017 at 8:33am PDT

The King of Sweden revealed that he had already received a briefing from the Chief of Police and the Chief of Security Police. Earlier in the day, Crown Princess Victoria had visited the scene of the attack and wept after leaving red roses in memory of those who died.  Carl Gustaf had issued a statement after from Brazil immediately after learning of the attack in which he said that 'it is with dismay that the Royal Family and I have been informed of the attack in Stockholm this afternoon. The background and full extent of the incident is not yet known. We are closely following the developments but our thoughts are now with the victims and their families'.

Princess Madeleine also posted a message on her Facebook page, to her 'beloved Stockholm' saying her thoughts were with those affected and their families. The lorry crashed into a crowd of people on the busy Drottninggaten in the city centre just before 3pm local time on April 7th 2017.  A man was arrested on Friday evening. The Prime Minister of Sweden described the events as a terrorist attack.