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Stockholm, Sweden. © Albin Hillert/WCC

Stockholm, Sweden. © Albin Hillert/WCC

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, denounced the terror attack in Stockholm, Sweden, on 7 April and mourned the loss of life, extending prayers for the victims and their families and friends.

A lorry was driven into a store in central Stockholm, killing at least three people and injuring a number of others, Swedish media reported. Unconfirmed reports have emerged of a secondary incident - a shooting - in a separate area of the city.

The incident occurred on Drottninggatan (Queen Street), one of the city's major pedestrian streets, just before 15:00 local time. Swedish police said they are treating it as terrorism.

Witnesses told local media they saw a truck driving into a department store window, and they had seen people on the ground. Stockholm’s Parliament was evacuated and the area cordoned off.

“Once again, people going about their daily lives, in celebration of holidays, have suffered a violent attack,” said Tveit. “We must join together, not just to condemn these actions but to strengthen our pursuit of just peace, and to strengthen our resolve not to allow extremist violence to separate us from each other.”

Tveit called for prayers and solidarity with the people of Sweden. He said, “Sweden is a country that has taken so many peace initiatives in other parts of the world, but now is hit by these inhuman actions of terror in the middle of their capital of Stockholm.”

“We pray for the victims and their families,” he said, “and we seek God’s mercy, love and grace that we may be empowered with strength to continue our pilgrimage of justice and peace.”

WCC member churches in Sweden