Two 'British citizens' have been tragically found shot dead in a burned-out car in Sweden, with police opening a double-murder investigation.
The pair are believed to have been shot before the car was set alight, according to local media. Their corpses were recovered by firefighters at around 2pm on Sunday afternoon, on a dirt road in Fosieby industriområde, an industrial district of Sweden’s third-largest city, Malmo. Local reports suggest that at least one of the victims was found with suspected bullet injuries.
Reports suggest the victims had rented a car at Copenhagen Kastrupn airport in Denmark before they were found across the border in Sweden. The victims are said to have been captured on surveillance images when they passed through the Öresund Bridge toll station, according to local outlet TV4, but police have not confirmed any details about the case.
Their identities are yet to be confirmed by a forensic examination, but Swedish police officials have confirmed that they “have an idea of who they are”. Swedish prosecutor Adrien Combier-Hogg says the identities will not be released before the forensic examination is complete, however they confirmed that the victims are not Danish. While authorities have not confirmed that the victims were British, it is believed that it was a British pair who rented the car at Copenhagen airport.
Police have made an appeal to the public for any tips regarding a black Toyota Rav 4, registered in Denmark, particularly if it was seen between the hours of 11:30am and 2pm on Sunday, July 14. Interpol are reportedly involved in the murder investigation.
Kerstin Gossé, speaking on behalf of the Swedish Police Authority, said they will cooperate with international police forces where necessary regarding the alleged double-murder. She added that Swedish police are working with speed to ascertain the circumstances of the horrific case, but said she will not reveal whether it might be related to gang crime, nor will she share any further speculation on the killings.
Swedish Aftonbladet claimed that police fear the killings may precede more acts of violence, saying there are "traces in the investigation that indicate more acts of violence". But Gossé denied that any fears had been raised internally about this possibility. A translation of Gossé's statement reads: "So far, we are keeping tight and restrained so that the preliminary investigation can have its way. We have to keep everything open. It is nothing that I can speculate on this early in the investigation."
She added: "We are interested in talking to people who have seen the car. It's about a black Danish-registered Toyota of model RAV4,' said Kerstin Gossé, spokesperson for the Swedish Police Authority. We are working hard with various measures in this investigation to bring clarity to this."
The car has been impounded by authorities and several people will be summoned in for questioning, the authorities confirmed. The scene is cordoned off and a crime scene investigation is underway, with local media reports showing forensic teams surrounding the burnt-out car.
The Foreign Office travel advice for Brits heading to Sweden warns that gang-related crime has been reported in three main areas, including Malmo. It says: "Violent crime does occur. Gang-related crime, including knife crime, shootings and explosions, has been reported in Malmö, Stockholm and Gothenburg. Take particular care of your belongings in major cities as pickpockets often target tourists for passports and cash."