Sweden’s overseas minister has spoken of grief amongst her colleagues after it emerged {that a} diplomat who was questioned this week on suspicion of spying has been discovered lifeless.
The person, described as a high-ranking diplomat, was arrested by Sweden’s Säpo intelligence service on Sunday and launched on Wednesday. He had denied wrongdoing, though prosecutors stated he remained underneath suspicion.
Overseas Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard launched an announcement saying her ideas have been with the diplomat’s household, buddies and colleagues and stated it had been a tough day.
She stated she couldn’t go into additional particulars in regards to the case. Police stated there have been no suspicious circumstances surrounding the demise.
Former overseas minister Carl Bildt described the “tragically deceased ambassador” as extraordinarily gifted and competent, who had labored in varied roles inside the overseas ministry.
Swedish studies stated he had spent lengthy durations stationed exterior Europe, most just lately as an envoy. Requested to substantiate whether or not the person who died was an envoy, his lawyer Anton Strand stated he had no remark.
Photographs of the door to the diplomat’s flat on Swedish TV confirmed that it had been compelled open on the time of his arrest.
The diplomat had sought medical therapy for accidents and submitted a report alleging use of extreme power on the time. Säpo stated the arrest had been peaceable.
Mr Strand stated in an announcement to the BBC: “I’ve ensured his formal report about abuse through the arrest has arrived to the particular investigations unit. An investigation has began relating to this.”
Unconfirmed studies from public broadcaster SVT counsel Säpo had been investigating a doable hyperlink to the sudden resignation of the brand new nationwide safety adviser, Tobias Thyberg, who stop hours a day after taking over the function.
Hours earlier than he resigned, delicate footage of him on the relationship app Grindr had been despatched anonymously to the federal government.
Mr Strand made no touch upon that however stated he had acquired the information of his consumer’s demise early on Friday and his ideas have been along with his household.
Prosecutor Per Lindqvist instructed Swedish TV that the demise was very regrettable and a preliminary investigation into suspected espionage was not full.
Swedish studies stated the person was in his 50s and had returned to his house in central Stockholm briefly after an extended interval overseas.
