3 terror suspects arrested in Sweden

Swedish police and security services carried out raids in several locations around Sweden on Monday, arresting three people suspected of preparing acts of terror.

Swedish news agency TT reported that all three suspects are Uzbek nationals and that at least one of them had been in contact with Rakhmat Akilov, the Uzbek man who is currently on trial in Sweden after carrying out the Stockholm truck attack in April last year that killed five people and injured around 15.

Authorities have released few details about Monday's arrests, saying a preliminary investigation is ongoing. However, speaking to Swedish Television, Nina Odermalm Schei, head of communications at the Swedish Security Service (Sapo), said: "We suspect that these preparations have been going on for some time."

Sapo also said the three detained individuals are suspected of being involved in planning acts of terror "with international connections", and police told reporters they had confiscated technical devices and other evidence material during the raids, which were carried out in several locations, including northern Sweden and the Stockholm suburb of Akalla.

Chief prosecutor Per Lindqvist said the suspects had been under surveillance for a long time and could be arrested following a Swedish Security Service's counter-terrorism operation.

The Swedish government was informed about the raids on Monday and are following developments closely, according to justice and home affairs minister Morgan Johansson's press secretary, Sofie Rudh.

Several people were also taken in for questioning on Monday.

It is not yet clear when a potential attack was due to take place, what the target was or how far advanced the suspects' plans were. However, according to Sapo, there was no terror attack planned in the coming days in Sweden.