Four arrested for Gothenburg airport heist
BACKGROUND: Gang attacks Gothenburg plane
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the audacious robbery at Gothenburg's Landvetter airport at the beginning of March.
The men were siezed at around 7am on Tuesday in a coordinated raid at a number of locations in the city, said the police in a press statement.
Some of those taken into custody are linked to the Bandidos criminal network.
Two of the men were born in 1973, one was born in 184 and another in 1969. All four live in Gothenburg.
The men will be interviewed on Tuesday and prosecutor Peter Larsson will decide later if they should be held in custody.
"It was a planned coordinated action with a large number of police officers who arrested the men in their homes," said police press officer Malin Sahlström to TT.
Soon afterwards police raided a property known to be used by the Bandidos, since one of those arrested was linked to the organisation.
"The background to the arrests is the detective work which has been ongoing since the robbery on March 7th. Many different factors have meant we were able to round up this group," said Sahlström.
Police made seizures at the suspects' homes as well as in the Bandidos' property, but would not say what they found.
"That will be revealed during the investigation," said Sahlström.
If the prosecutor decides to hold the men, there will probably be court proceedings at the end of the week, she added.
"If they've got the right people then it's obviously pleasing - but I can't say any more than that," commented Dan Larsson, the head of security at Landvetter airport.
The airport has been providing information to the police ever since the robbery, but Larsson did not know whether this had contributed to the case against the four men.
Bandidos is one of the world's largest criminal motorcycle gangs, similar to the Hell's Angels and the Outlaws. Bandidos is an umbrella organisation with supporter clubs, or 'hangarounds' known as X-teams.
A recent study carried out by the Swedish police showed an increase in organised crime in Sweden linked to criminal motorcycle gangs and their supporters. There has also been an associated rise in threats and harassment of victims, witnesses, police and other authorities.
Between 1998 and 2004 there was a fivefold increase in the number of blackmail convictions of Bandidos and Hell's Angels members.
TT/The Local
Comments
See Also
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the audacious robbery at Gothenburg's Landvetter airport at the beginning of March.
The men were siezed at around 7am on Tuesday in a coordinated raid at a number of locations in the city, said the police in a press statement.
Some of those taken into custody are linked to the Bandidos criminal network.
Two of the men were born in 1973, one was born in 184 and another in 1969. All four live in Gothenburg.
The men will be interviewed on Tuesday and prosecutor Peter Larsson will decide later if they should be held in custody.
"It was a planned coordinated action with a large number of police officers who arrested the men in their homes," said police press officer Malin Sahlström to TT.
Soon afterwards police raided a property known to be used by the Bandidos, since one of those arrested was linked to the organisation.
"The background to the arrests is the detective work which has been ongoing since the robbery on March 7th. Many different factors have meant we were able to round up this group," said Sahlström.
Police made seizures at the suspects' homes as well as in the Bandidos' property, but would not say what they found.
"That will be revealed during the investigation," said Sahlström.
If the prosecutor decides to hold the men, there will probably be court proceedings at the end of the week, she added.
"If they've got the right people then it's obviously pleasing - but I can't say any more than that," commented Dan Larsson, the head of security at Landvetter airport.
The airport has been providing information to the police ever since the robbery, but Larsson did not know whether this had contributed to the case against the four men.
Bandidos is one of the world's largest criminal motorcycle gangs, similar to the Hell's Angels and the Outlaws. Bandidos is an umbrella organisation with supporter clubs, or 'hangarounds' known as X-teams.
A recent study carried out by the Swedish police showed an increase in organised crime in Sweden linked to criminal motorcycle gangs and their supporters. There has also been an associated rise in threats and harassment of victims, witnesses, police and other authorities.
Between 1998 and 2004 there was a fivefold increase in the number of blackmail convictions of Bandidos and Hell's Angels members.
TT/The Local
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.