Suspected serial killer charged in Malmö

Formal charges were filed in Malmö on Monday morning against a suspected serial killer who left the city gripped with fear before his arrest 18 months ago.

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The suspect, 40-year-old Peter Mangs, stands charged with three counts of murder, 12 counts of attempted murder, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder.

“In the beginning of the investigation the suspect cooperated during interrogations, but since then he has not wanted to talk or answer questions," said prosecutor Solveig Wollstad in a statement on Monday.

"Of the crimes he is currently charged with, he has only confessed to two counts of vandalism.”

He has been charged with killing two men of immigrant origin in 2003 and one Swedish woman who had been sitting in a car with an immigrant man in late 2009.

He was also charged with 12 attempted murders in which he fired numerous shots with his Glock 19 pistol at homes, businesses and cars as well as out in the open, seriously injuring a number of people and coming close to killing many others.

"There is a certain level of xenophobia, but also other things, like aggression towards people who have previously been found guilty of crime," Wollstad was quoted by the TT news agency as saying.

Periodic reports emerging from the police investigation since Mangs' arrest in November 2010 have added further cases to the charge sheet which is reputedly over 60 pages long.

In autumn of 2010 police in Malmö began to suspect a serial killer was wreaking havoc on the city. The city was stifled with fear after similarities were noticed between this case and the so called "Laser Man" killer in Stockholm, who shot 11 people between 1991 and 1992.

On November 6th, Mangs was finally arrested and has been held on remand for ensuing 18 months as investigators pieced together the complicated and case against him.

Wollstad explained that the investigation was such a lengthy process as it required substantial amounts of witness testimonies, forensic evidence reports, and cooperation with several other countries including the US.

Mangs is also charged with two cases of aggravated assault, aggravated judicial tampering and two counts of criminal damages.

He continues to deny the charges against him.

The prosecutor's office said Mangs' trial should get underway "relatively soon" and was expected to wrap up around mid-July.

AFP/The Local/og