Police carried out a major operation at Sigtunaskolan, a boarding school, on Thursday evening. Three male students, all aged 18, were arrested. Two are suspected of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated unlawful coercion, while the third is under investigation for assault and unlawful coercion.
The suspected crimes are believed to have taken place at the school between October 1 and 3 and, according to information given to several media outlets, in connection with a hazing ritual.
One of the students’ lawyers, Elin Ternert, wrote to Expressen that her client takes the matter seriously but denies any wrongdoing.
"It is important to see the current events in context. Similar activities have occurred in this type of school environment before, and there is a history and a school culture that cannot be ignored. Everyone is obviously responsible for their own actions, but the school also has a responsibility for the environment and the traditions that have developed," the lawyer wrote.
Prosecutor and lead preliminary investigator Lisa Dos Santos has said the crimes are serious.
"Intensive investigative work is now underway, including several interrogations," Dos Santos said in a press release on Friday.
The prosecutor must decide by Sunday whether to ask for the men to be remanded in custody.
