Sweden: Weapons used in attacks sold legally online

An investigation has revealed that weapons used in high-profile Swedish attacks are being sold legally through online retailers. This includes the sword used in the school attack in Fagersta, as well as weapons used in previous incidents.

In 2015, Anton Lundin Pettersson purchased a sharpened Cold Steel sword and a military helmet from a Swedish online store prior to the Trollhättan school attack. Similarly, Theodor Engström purchased a dagger—described by prosecutors as a weapon intended solely for attacking people—from a Swedish webshop before murdering a doctor in 2022.

When questioned, a representative for one of the retailers stated that such items have multiple uses, including hunting or as collector's pieces, and noted the difficulty in preventing individuals from committing such acts.