Several killed as bus crashes into crowded stop in central Stockholm

Several people have been killed and others injured after a bus ploughed into a bus stop in central Stockholm on Friday afternoon, Swedish police have confirmed. The crash occurred at around 15:23 (14:23 GMT) along Valhallavägen, a major street near the Royal Institute of Technology.

The exact circumstances of the incident remain uncertain. Police spokesperson Nadya Norton said the bus driver has been arrested, and a manslaughter investigation has been opened as part of standard procedure following a fatal crash. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether there were passengers onboard the double-decker bus, nor have they released details about the victims’ ages or identities.

Images published by Swedish media showed rescue workers clustered around the front of the bus as they attempted to free people reportedly trapped underneath. Firefighters and paramedics could be seen carrying stretchers and clearing debris as emergency vehicles filled the busy street.

A shop owner who witnessed the crash told public broadcaster SVT that the bus struck a pole in front of the shelter before crashing into the waiting crowd. The witness described scenes of panic as several people ran into his store in tears.

A woman who spoke to the Expressen newspaper said the bus “mowed down an entire bus stop queue.” She described people screaming and rushing to help the injured while others lay motionless on the ground. “There must have been more people under the bus,” she added, shaken by what she had seen.

Police cordoned off the area shortly after the crash, and investigators began interviewing witnesses while forensic teams examined the scene. Traffic on Valhallavägen was shut down as emergency teams worked to rescue the injured and assess the full scale of the tragedy.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his condolences in a message posted on X, saying his thoughts were with the victims and their families. “People who might have been on their way home to family, friends, or a quiet evening at home,” he wrote. “We do not yet know the cause, but my thoughts are primarily with those affected and their loved ones.”

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Police say all possibilities are being investigated, including potential mechanical failure, driver error, or other contributing factors. Officials are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant footage to contact authorities.

The deadly crash has shocked Stockholm residents, many of whom rely on the city’s usually reliable and safe public transport system. More information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.