STOCKHOLM — A tragic scene unfolded in central Stockholm on Friday afternoon after a double-decker bus slammed into pedestrians waiting at a bus stop, leaving multiple people dead and several others injured, Swedish police have confirmed.
Emergency responders rushed to the busy Valhallavägen area shortly after 3:23 p.m. (1423 GMT). Images circulating in Swedish media showed a heavy presence of police, ambulances, and fire crews, with rescuers working beneath the bus to reach people trapped underneath.
Authorities Confirm Casualties
“There are both injured and deceased people in the incident,” police said in a statement, adding that they were not yet releasing details about the victims’ identities.
Health authority spokesperson Michelle Marcher told AFP that at least two seriously injured individuals had been transported to hospital.
Driver Arrested; Investigation Underway
Police spokesperson Nadya Norton said the cause of the crash remains unknown.
“The investigation will have to determine what happened. It’s too early to say and I don’t want to speculate,”
— Nadya Norton, police spokesperson
The bus driver has been arrested as part of a routine manslaughter investigation. “We need to question him, then we’ll see if he’s going to be released or detained,” Norton added.
Witnesses Describe ‘Chaos’
Witness accounts paint a picture of horror and confusion.
Michelle Mac Key, who had just stepped off another bus, told Expressen she came upon the aftermath moments after the crash.
“I crossed the road and saw the double-decker bus that had mowed down an entire bus stop queue,” she said.
“People were screaming and trying to help the injured.”
A nurse, Mac Key said she and a doctor at the scene tried to assist but were asked by police to stand beside the deceased.
“I thought it was an exercise at first… It was so unreal. Chaos.”
Another nearby resident told Aftonbladet she heard a loud crash followed by screams. Looking out her window, she saw the wreckage and people lying on the ground.
Prime Minister Responds
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed condolences on X, calling the incident “tragic.”
“Several people have died and been injured at a bus stop in central Stockholm,” he wrote.
“We do not yet know the cause, but my thoughts are with those affected and their families.”
Scene Remains Blocked Off
Two hours after the crash, a significant stretch of Valhallavägen was still cordoned off as police forensic teams continued their investigation. Emergency vehicles had since departed, but the area remained under tight control.