Swedish off-duty police officer dies
Photo: Steven Knap/Ritzau Scanpix/TT

Swedish off-duty police officer dies after assault at World Cup event in Copenhagen

A Swedish man in his 30s who worked as a police officer but was off duty has died after being beaten at a World Cup event in Copenhagen on Tuesday, the Swedish Police Association confirms. A suspect in his 30s has been taken into custody.

"It is with great sadness that I receive the news that a colleague has passed away after being seriously assaulted during leave in Copenhagen. My warmest thoughts go to his family, friends and colleagues," says Katharina von Sydow, the president of the Police Association, in a comment.

Ceremony at the station

Åsa Bergman, chairwoman of the Eastern Police Association, says that a memorial ceremony was held at the police station where the man is based.

"We are there to support the man's colleagues. It is of course very sad," she says.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also comments.

"Many of us have been touched by the terrible news that a Swedish police officer on vacation in Denmark has died in Copenhagen. My thoughts are with the family, all the loved ones who have lost a loved one," he says in a written comment.

According to the prosecutor, the man has not been formally declared dead.

The incident occurred in connection with the round of 32 match between Norway and Ivory Coast being shown on a big screen in the Islands Brygge district. Later in the evening, Sweden's match against France was to be shown.

Denies crime

According to testimony, a fight broke out during a goal celebration and the suspect punched the victim, which according to the prosecutor resulted in serious injuries. This is reported by the Danish newspaper BT, which was present at the detention hearing in Copenhagen's district court on Friday.

The suspect turned himself in Friday morning after police released a photo of him on Wednesday. The man has been in custody for 26 days and denies any wrongdoing.

In this story
AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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