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The attack happened in the afternoon of 11 December 2010, when a young man blew himself up in Bryggargatan in central Stockholm. According to the investigation by the Security Service, the bomber was on his own when he travelled from Tranås in the south of Sweden to Stockholm earlier that day. He was also alone at the time of the attack. The investigation also indicates that he carried two explosive devices, which together weighed between 15 and 17 kilos. Another explosive device, which never detonated, was found in a burning vehicle parked a few blocks away, on the corner of Olof Palmes gata and Drottninggatan.
Driving from Tranås to Stockholm
According to the investigation, the bomber was in Tranås on 11 December 2010. At 11.30 he is reported to have left his parents´ apartment. There is no information to suggest that he took anything with him, and at the time the family believed he would be coming back some time in the afternoon. Shortly after noon, he is known to have left Tranås, driving a white Audi. CCTV footage shows him arriving at Herrbeta motorway service area 13.45.
— It is evident, from this footage, that he was carrying something quite bulky underneath his jacket. We believe that he had already strapped on the device, on his front, when he was driving to Stockholm, said Agnetha Hilding Qvarnström, inquiry leader and Deputy Chief District Prosecutor at the Public Prosecution Office for National Security.
At 16.15, and sfter having had some difficulties finding the way, as registered on a retrieved GPS, he finally parked the car in the corner of Olof Palmes gata and Drottninggatan in central Stockholm. At this point in time, he also went online to send a number of emails to e.g. the Swedish news agency TT and the Swedish Security Service.
Possible scenario
At 16.50, the rescue services received the first call about a burning vehicle in central Stockholm. The forensic examination of the car later showed that it had been set on fire using several cans of petrol, bottled gas cans and fireworks. An explosive device that never went off had also been placed on the passenger seat. This device was made from a pressure cooker and was similar to the two explosive devices the bomber carried on his body. A walkie-talkie, similar to that found next to the bomber´s body, was also found in the car.
— One possible scenario is that the burning car was meant to attract passers-by and rescue staff. Once a sufficiently large number of people had gathered around the vehicle, the bomber would use the walkie-talkie to set off the device placed inside the car. When trying to get away from the scene, people would run towards the bomber who would then set off the explosive devices he was carrying on his body, said Agnetha Hilding Qvarnström.
However, the device in the car never exploded. CCTV footage shows the man walking back and forward around the corner of Drottninggatan and Bryggargatan. According to the Security Service, it is likely that he was trying to adjust the devices he was carrying and which, for some reason, failed to go off. Shortly before 17.00, the device strapped on his front exploded and he died. According to the Security Service, a technical malfunction lead to only one part of the device going off.
The explosive devices
The explosive devices have been examined and assessed by the Security Service as not very complicated. All the ingredients except for one had been purchased in Tranås. The device he was carrying on his back, in a rucksack, was made up of a pressure cooker filled with 4-5 kilos of explosive substances, along with six aluminium bottles which together held some 5-6 kilos of explosive substances. On his front, he carried another pressure cooker filled with 4-5 kilos of explosives, and 9 so-called pollen presses, weighing roughly 2 kilos. In all, the pollen presses contained slightly less than 500 grammes of explosives. The Security Service has carried out test explosions with a similar pressure cooker containing 3 kilos of explosives.
— Although the test explosions were based on only a fraction of what the bomber carried with him the explosive power was quite substantial, said Agnetha Hilding Qvarnström.
The investigation continues
During the course of the investigation, the Security Service has received more than 1 200 tips, held more than 800 interviews, made a number of reconstructions, and performed several searches of premises and forensic examinations.
According to Agnetha Hilding Qvarnström, there is no evidence in the investigation to suggest that the bomber was photographed by an unknown and unidentified man, using a professional camera, as suggested by the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper earlier this week.
— However, there is information about a person photographing the body with a small camera, said Agnetha Hilding Qvarnström.
According to the Security Service, the investigative work to confirm whether the bomber was receiving any financial or logistical support is still ongoing. The investigative work is also continuing as regards what the bomber was doing during the 40 minutes between leaving his parents´ apartment in Tranås and beginning his journey to Stockholm.
— We are continuing the investigation to get all the pieces of the puzzle in place. One important piece of this puzzle is the investigation currently underway in Scotland, said Agnetha Hilding Qvarnström.
