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Swedish cops fooled by student 'sniper'

Published: 22 Mar 12 06:21 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/39818/20120322/

Armed men were spotted on a roof in central Sweden on Wednesday afternoon, prompting five police cars to rush to the scene only to discover the supposed sniper was part a group of eager media students shooting a film.

“It’s terribly dangerous to do what they did. They could have been shot," said Sven Matzols of the county police to local paper Dalarnas Tidningar (DT).

Police received a call around 2pm that a man with a rifle with laser bore sighting had been spotted on the roof of local department store Åhléns, in Falun.

Officers acted quickly and dispatched five patrol cars to the area.

“We are hardly going to dismiss that kind of call,” said Matzols to the paper.

When police arrived on the scene they saw five men on the roof, some of whom had their faces obscured by hoods.

However, after just a short while one police officer learned that it was a film shoot, rather than a shootout, they had stumbled upon.

The sniper situation was part of a film being shot by students from the local college’s media programme, and the students had failed to inform the police of their plans.

“If worst had come to worst, they could have been shot," sad Matzols to DT, adding that five patrol cars were sent out and man hours spent for no reason.

The students were reprimanded by the officers, but are not under suspicion for any crime, according to the paper.

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07:53 March 22, 2012 by Abe L
LOL! "Could have been shot", in the US most likely, in Sweden no.

I just can't figure out why they police would actually head out for this, but when you're dying at home and call for an ambulance nobody shows up. Strange priorities, clearly a guy with a gun in his hand to potentially kill people is bad, but someone actually dying doesn't need help.
08:24 March 22, 2012 by karex
@ Abe L

Unfortunately the prioritieis aren't so strange when you consider the state of mind that they're coming from: money.

Someone on a roof with a rifle could kill one or more young healthy people who would otherwise be paying taxes. Someone who is not healthy probably is just wasting tax money in their eyes and therefore expendable. It's very sad when a society starts placing a greater value on objects and things instead of human life.
13:04 March 22, 2012 by Puffin
@ Abe L @Karex

You appear not to have considered Falun's history in this respect - given the mass murder there 18 years ago when in 1994 a soldier - Mattias Flinck - went on the rampage with a rifle in central Falun killing 7 people

... of course the Falun police would react
14:20 March 22, 2012 by libertarianism
These young journos aren't so bright at all, especially given the added info in comment #3. They should probably avoid practicing their trade in any conflict zones...

I also heard of someone being killed in a hunting accident some years ago. Tragic and sad, but the victim was walking around in the forest in a fur coat during hunting season. Some people don't seem to respect or understand the seriousness of guns. :(

It's good that we can count on a serious and professional police response. But I agree with Karex 100%. Swedish healthcare = Potemkin facade. :(
15:28 March 22, 2012 by zooeden
Of course they been fooled, a bunch of incompetents this police. Im concearned they didnt go trigger happy!!!
23:05 March 22, 2012 by muscle
come on guys, dont be too harsh on police. they are restricted by the law and is insulted by the citizens. i feel sorry for this profession, everywhere in the world. Sometimes police in few countries are abused by the politicians and used only as a puppet. really sorry for this profession!
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