Police fire shots at suspected teen arsonists

Published: 11 Nov 09 08:03 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/23196/20091111/

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Police in a Stockholm suburb responding to a suspected case of arson on Tuesday night fired shots at a car carrying three teenagers who tried to run the police officers down as they attempted to flee.

Two officers from Handen. in Haninge south of Stockholm. fired three shots at the vehicle, which was carrying three 15-year-old youths. Neither the teens nor the officers were injured in the incident.

Police received a call shortly after 9pm alerting them that flames had engulfed a summer cabin in nearby Trångsund.

When police tried to stop a car suspected of having been at the scene of the fire, the driver revved the engine and turned the vehicle directly toward the police.

When the car then accelerated, one officer fired two shots. The second officer then fired one more round, according to police spokesperson Mats Nylén.

“We don’t know why they set the house on fire. At this point there’s nothing to indicate any motive other than amusement,” he told the TT news agency.

The youths are old enough to face criminal charges, but due to their young ages it remains unclear how prosecutors will proceed with the case, said Nylén.

While the fact that the police officers used their firearms has been reported, there are currently no suspicions that they acted inappropriately, according to Nylén.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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Your comments about this article:

10:13 November 11, 2009 by Nemesis
It is long overdue the police in Swewden getting a bit more determined to tackle crime.

Anyone deliberately driving at a police officer, that police officer has the right to shoot as far as I am concerned.
11:20 November 11, 2009 by sebseb
I don't have a car nor a summer cabin, but If I had, and would catch kids trying to burn it down, I would definitely shot them and make sure they don't try again.

When I was young, not so long ago, I had very different types of amusement. I believe teenagers should express their rage with writing or masturbating. What about reading books and play hockey or football?
11:41 November 11, 2009 by DreEstwd
Looks like the police need a little target practice. Perhaps if they would've been shot it would've sent a message to the other "yoofs" not to go around burning things.
11:43 November 11, 2009 by krrodman
Just so long as they promise never to do it again - "cross their hearts and hope to die" - then I think that people who try to kill another human being should be let go without jail time.

The important thing is they promise never to do it again. Just saying that they won't do it again without the "promise" is not good enough.
11:57 November 11, 2009 by double concerto
Old enough to run people down to escape...but too young to be properly prosecuted, how absolutely absurd!!!
12:00 November 11, 2009 by Dr. Dillner
They do it because they know there is no consequence for what they do.
15:12 November 11, 2009 by eZee.se
A couple of bullet holes through the windshield then splashed across all the newspapers should get the message across to teens to respect others property.

Heck, I would even support a shot to one of these little sods limbs if they were actually aiming the car at the officer and trying to run him down.
16:51 November 11, 2009 by crofab
They tried to run down the officers, that's essentially attempted murder. Firing at them was definitely justifiable.
17:51 November 11, 2009 by mkvgtired
double concerto, the same predicament as the two that strangled another 16 year old to death. Old enough to kill, but young enough to get off with 20 months. Absurd indeed.
20:23 November 11, 2009 by karex
I get this feeling that part of the problem here is the way Swedish parents have become seriously restricted when it comes to disciplining their children properly.

There is a limit to everything. Of course there are rules in place to try to combat child abuse. But going overboard is not the answer - to encourage children to snitch on their parents if they didn't like dinner and other such ridiculous motivations they have is beyond logical.

Extremes of anything can never yield good results. There must be a balance. When parents can't discipline their children properly, it ends up in society's lap to pay the consequences.
23:10 November 11, 2009 by insect
Is it legal for 15 year olds to drive in Sweden?
23:26 November 11, 2009 by Beynch
This is yet another example of the breakdown of law and order and increased chaos in Sweden. It is a direct result of decades of socialist/liberal lackadaisical approach to law enforcement. We're supoosed to feel sooooooorry for these youths. It is not theeeeeeeeir fault. It is sociiiiiiiiety's. They had difficult chiiiiildhoods. They need guuuuuuuuuuuidance and heeeeeeeeeelp. Their actions are induced by outside fooooooorces. They have to get more social seeeeeeervices, and prooooograms. - Swedes are truly sick and tired of this ever increasing anarchy. Build more prisons! Crush the left in 2010!
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