LIVE! Trump's Syria strike celebrated by 'terrorists', Iran says

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Sat, 08 April 2017

Trump's Syria strike celebrated by 'terrorists', Iran says

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21:54 Trump's Syria strike celebrated by 'terrorists', Iran says

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has said "terrorists are celebrating" US strikes on a Syrian airbase.

His comments echo the response from Russia, which like Iran is allied to Syria, and from Syria itself.

Rouhani said: "The man who is now in office in America claimed that he wanted to fight terrorism. But today, all the terrorists in Syria are celebrating this US attack.

"Why did you help terrorist groups and support them in your first move?"

At least six people are reported to have been killed in the missile strikes in the early hours of Friday.

The UK's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called off a visit to Moscow, saying the situation had changed "fundamentally" and he would work with the US in pursuit of a ceasefire.

BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha and some representatives of the Jain community today demanded that slaughter houses in Maharashtra should remain closed tomorrow on account of Mahavir Jayanti.

The Bombay High Court recently set aside an old government directive to municipal bodies to ban meat sale on Mahavir Jayanti.

"The state government is planning to approach Supreme Court after Bombay High Court allowed slaughter houses to remain open, but they would remain open on Sunday (tomorrow) when Jains will be celebrating Mahavir Jayanti. We are requesting that these shops be closed for one day, and we hope the state will take some decision," Lodha said.

In order to take revenge on the BJP in the wake of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the BSP has extended support to Congress for the crucial bypoll to Ater assembly seat, to be held on Sunday.

BSP has extended support to the Congress ahead of the Ater bypoll, Congress general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Prakash told reporters.

Confirming the development, BSP district chief Gambhir Singh said, We have extended support to Congress for Ater bypoll to take revenge on the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

BSP enjoys good support in Bhind district, bordering Uttar Pradesh.

The Ater bypoll has become a prestige issue for senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

While Congress wants to retain Ater seat as it belongs to former leader of opposition, Satyadev Katare, whose death necessitated the bypoll, BJP also wants to wrest it from Congress to continue with the partys winning streak.

21:11

JUST IN: Delhi Police arrests two accused in connection with attack on German national Benjamin Scolt

20:36 Saying 'talaq, talaq, talaq' doesn't amount to anything: Vice President wife

Joining the chorus of voices against Triple Talaq, Vice President Hamid Ansari's wife Salma Ansari noted that saying talaq thrice does not amount to anything, and further called on Muslim women to read the Quran thoroughly instead of relying on clerics for their views on Islam.

"There can be no 'talaq' just because someone says 'talaq, talaq, talaq' three times," Ansari told reporters.

"Whatever the maulana said you think it's true. You read the Quran in Arabic but never read its translations. Women should read the Quran, ponder on it, gain knowledge what the Shariat says and not just follow anyone blindly," she added.

The Supreme Court is to hear multiple pleas challenging the validity of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy practices among Muslims community on May 11 by a Constitution bench during the summer vacation.

Amid the row over 'Vande Mataram', Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today hit out at those refusing to sing the national song saying it reflected their "narrow mindedness".

"Some people are saying that we will not sing Vande Matram... We want this country to move ahead in the 21st century and the matter of dispute is that we will sing Vande Mataram or not... This is a matter of concern," he said.

"We will have to find a way out to overcome this narrow mindedness," Adityanath said.

The chief minister was speaking at a book release function at the Raj Bhawan here.

His remarks came against the backdrop of Samajwadi Party corporators protesting a proposal to make singing of the national song compulsory at commencement of proceedings of a meeting of Allahabad municipal corporation.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is not only inspiring other BJP ruled states to take measure for waiving off farmers' loans, but even the Congress seems to be taking cue from him.

Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki has said that if the party is voted to power, it will waive off the loans of all the farmers in the state.

Yogi Adityanath cabinet decided to waive off loans worth over Rs 36,000 crore in Uttar Pradesh.

Now, Congress wants to replicate the BJP's idea in Gujarat, which goes to Assembly election next year, when the BJP government will be facing a four-time anti-incumbency.

With Narendra Modi shifting to New Delhi as the Prime Minister, the Congress hopes to stage a comeback in the state after 20 years.

Earlier, Solanki had promised to set up special economic zones in the tribal districts of Gujarat. He had led Congress's Adivasi Adhikar Yatra at Dahod in Gujarat. Dahod is a tribal-dominated district of the state.

19:05

JUST IN: Pakistani troops violate ceasefire, resort to firing on Indian forces along LoC in Noushera sector of Rajouri district

19:01 Ram Temple is my belief and ready to go to jail for it: Uma Bharti

Ram Temple in Ayodhya was her belief and she was ready to go to jail for it, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said on Saturday.

After meeting UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath she said, Ram temple is a matter of belief for me and I have immense pride in it, if I have to go to jail for it I will go, if I have to hang myself for it I will do it.

Bharti who is also a part of the Ram temple movement mentioned that the apex court has already directed to resolve the matter outside the court.

A small eatery, named after the property tycoon and current US President has opened in the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani Syria is of course a country that was included in Trumps failed refugee ban earlier this year.

It's also the country that recently had 59 US Tomahawk missiles blasted at it. The Trump authorised airstrike was targeting an airfield where its said the alleged chemical weapon attack was launched from earlier this week.

The restaurant opened up near the northern border of Syria and Turkey and offers falafel sandwiches.

Keeping peace with the current situation in Syria and the US, I decided to name my restaurant after the new US president.

I am hopeful I will make a profit from this small eatery because my wife and I serve delicious sandwiches, and moreover the name is attractive," said owner of Trump restaurant, Waleed Shekhi.

One more person was arrested today for his alleged role in the lynching of a Muslim man by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan, taking the number of those arrested in the incident to four.

Dayanand Yadav, who was seen thrashing the men for illegal transportation of cows, has been arrested, police said.

With this, the number of persons arrested in the case has reached four, they said.

Meanwhile, the Alwar SP transferred the investigation into the case to Circle Officer Behror Parmal Singh. SHO of Behror police station, Ramesh Chand was earlier probing the same.

The Rashtriya Syawamsevak Sangh has launched a campaign for awarding Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour to Nobel Laureate and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

The campaign was launched on April 6, a day before Dalai Lama reached Tawang in West Kameng district in the face of protests by China.

"We have so far collected some 5,000 signatures. We will submit our plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after getting 25,000 signatures," district RSS leader Lhundup Chosang, who is spearheading the campaign said.

Although the Bharat Ratna is different from the Nobel Peace Prize but the move will send the right message on the international stage.

"Besides, the Dalai Lama deserves the Bharat Ratna as he has said that he is a son of India and feels honoured to be the longest serving guest of this great country," Chosang said.

An online campaign has also been going on, demanding the award for the Dalai Lama.

The civil aviation ministry today warned that unruly air passengers will face "severe consequences", including police action, a day after Air India

lifted the flying ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad.

Gaikwad was barred by Air India and leading private carriers after he assaulted a staffer of the national airline at the Delhi airport last month.

Following direction from the ministry, Air India lifted the ban yesterday and private airlines followed suit today.

In a series of tweets, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said unruly behaviour by air passengers will result in severe consequences.

This is the first official response from the ministry after the airlines revoked the ban on Gaikwad -- a development that had become a political hot potato after the Shiv Sena, an ally at the Centre, sought lifting of the ban.

"Air travellers should note that safety and security for passengers and crew are our paramount priority. Unruly and disruptive behaviour will result in severe consequences. This includes police action for a specific incident as well as being placed on a no-fly list," he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the cancellation of AAP's office allotment was part of a larger design to "finish" the party.

He said the party is being "victimised" for taking on the ruling mafia and siding with the poor, and asserted the Aam Aadmi Party is ready to operate from the "streets".

The office allotment to the AAP by the Kejriwal government was cancelled by the L-G yesterday after the Shunglu Committee pointed out "irregularities" in the allotment.

Kejriwal wondered why the Congress and the BJP, despite having negligible presence in the Delhi politics, have multiple office accommodations and plots.

"This must be the first time in independent India that a ruling party is being denied office space in the state where it is in power," he told a press conference at his residence.

Kejriwal linked the cancellation to AAP's promise of abolishing house tax if voted to power in the municipal corporations, which go to polls on April 23.

"They want to finish us, they want to close AAP. But it won't happen as we are on the path of truth. People will teach them a lesson in the polls.

"Having an office is our right. We are not seeking a favour. It was allotted legally. We will place a fresh demand for an office. People are already offering us space," he said.

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who was involved in a row with Air India, met party president Uddhav Thackeray today and explained his position over the issue.

The meeting, which lasted for 10 minutes at Shiv Sena's central office at Dadar in Mumbai, came after Air India, and other airlines, lifted the flying ban on Gaikwad after he expressed regret for assaulting an AI employee on March 23.

Neither Thackeray nor Gaikwad disclosed to reporters what transpired in the meeting. However, party sources said Gaikwad explained his position over the whole controversy.

Gaikwad, the MP from Osmanabad, arrived in Mumbai by the Rajdhani Express this morning after attending Parliament proceedings earlier this week.

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader said on Saturday that it's up to his followers to decide whether the office of the Dalai Lama exists in the future.

In a speech to tens of thousands of his followers on Saturday in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang the second-highest seat of Tibetan Buddhism the Dalai Lama denied that he had any knowledge of where his successor would be born.

Asked if the next Dalai Lama could be a woman, he said, "That might also happen."

Under Tibetan Buddhist tradition, senior monks identify a young boy who shows signs he is a reincarnation of a late leader.

China's leadership insists it has the authority to appoint the Dalai Lama's successor after his death.

The Dalai Lama is on a weeklong visit to Arunachal Pradesh despite objections by China, which considers the state a disputed region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a day-long visit to Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli on April 17 during which he will address a public rally and inaugurate development works.

Modi will lay foundation stone of some projects and distribute assistance to beneficiaries of government welfare schemes.

On the occasion, around 21,000 beneficiaries will receive help kits under different schemes, said Daman and Diu Publicity Secretary Vikram Singh Malik.

The beneficiaries will include those covered under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Aawas Yojana, among others.

Electoral promises routinely remain unfulfilled and manifestos turn out to be mere pieces of paper, for which political parties must be held accountable, Chief Justice of India J S Khehar said today.

"Now a days manifestos have become a mere piece of paper, for this political parties have to be made accountable," the CJI said at a seminar titled 'Economic Reforms with Reference to Electoral issues'.

The CJI, speaking in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee, said political parties give "brazen" excuses like lack of consensus among their members to justify non-fulfilment of their poll promises.

He said manifestos remain pieces of paper due to short term memory of citizens but political parties must be held accountable.

When news broke that US President Donald Trump was preparing to launch cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield, some of the most prominent critics of the move weren't the center-leftists who've knocked almost every decision he's made since taking office.

Rather, it was Trump's most vocal and controversial online supporters themselves, the far-right mediasphere that rallied behind his candidacy.

One account tweeted, "We don't want war in Syria!! Don't believe the #SyriaHoax, we need to focus on our own country right now. America First."

"I voted for you, my whole family voted for you," said Angelo John Gage, a Marine veteran who was once the chairman of the white nationalist National Youth Front. "We all busted our a--es to destroy the fake media news, and now you're falling for it." His video reaction to rumors of US military action in Syria was a direct address to Trump, and it went viral. Both WikiLeaks and Infowars reposted it.

Right-wing pseudo-journalist Chuck Johnson also took to Facebook to criticize American intervention in Syria.

"I will spend every minute of 2020 working to defeat Trump if we invade Syria," Johnson promised.

14:20 Rajinikanth postpones meet with fans

Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth has postponed the meeting with his fans, one of their long pending demands, following a request made by them for individual photographs for which more number of group interactions will be required, the actor said.

The 66-year-old star had earlier planned to meet the fans for photo sessions from April 12-16 in the city, where he was slated to get pictures clicked with them.

"My dear fans. I have an information for you. It has been 10 years since we all met and took pictures. You have been constantly requesting to meet me and take pictures. Since I could not find time, I was unable to meet you all then. But I had planned to meet you all from April 12 to April 16", he said in a audio message to his fans.

Elaborating, he said, "From April 12 to April 16 we had planned to meet fans hailing from 4-5 districts averaging 300 people daily.

"We had decided to invite 1,800 to 2,000 fans of them to participate during the meeting. It was my desire.", he said.

"But, later, we realised that it is not practically feasible to take individual photographs with everyone during the meeting and had decided to take photo sessions in eight member groups", he said.

On her four-day visit to India, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has signed 22 bilateral agreements, including in key areas of civil nuclear cooperation and defence have been signed.

Here are the highlights:

>> PM Hasinas visit comes just before the advent of Poila Boishakh. I take this opportunity to wish you and the people of bangladesh shubho nobo borsho

>> Your decision to honour Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the liberation war of 1971 has deeply touched the people of India

>> India has always stood for the prosperity of people of Bangladesh. We are long-standing partners

>> We are happy to announce $4.5 billion line of credit to Bangladesh

>> We have greatest admiration for PM Sheikh Hasina's resolve to deal with security threats

>> I firmly believe that our governments can and will find an early solution to Teesta water sharing

The Federation of Indian Airlines, comprising four leading private carriers, today revoked the flying ban imposed on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad.

Jet Airways, SpiceJet, GoAir and IndiGo make up the grouping whose decision came a day after Air India lifted the flying ban imposed on the Lok Sabha member.

An FIA source said the federation has lifted the flying ban imposed on Gaikwad following Air India's decision on the same.

On March 24, Air India barred Gaikwad from flying with it after he assaulted a staffer at the Delhi airport. Following suit, the FIA barred the Lok Sabha member from flying.

Popular vlogger Lilly Singh, aka Superwoman, has made millions of youngsters across the world laugh out loud and exclaim "Same!" with her commentary and reaction videos, in which she expounds hilarious, on-point arguments on some issue or the other.

This time, the YouTube sensation took to Twitter to air her grievances regarding the Indian Consulate in Toronto.

In a series of tweets directed at Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week, Lilly expressed her discontent with the visa procurement procedures at the consulate, which she described as "extremely difficult and unprofessional".

"Love India but gotta say that the consulate of India in Toronto is literally the worst place on earth. Such a disappointment," she wrote, adding, "For travel to India, the consulate makes acquiring a visa the most difficult task. I hope one day @narendramodi can remedy this. It's sad."

Not only this, she also shot a video in which she goes on at length about her trials and travails at the consulate. She alleges that the employees there are "extremely rude" and have yelled at her on several occasions for merely asking a question.

Congress leader P Chidambaram today took a swipe at BJP leader Tarun Vijay for his remarks against south Indians, asking whether BJP-RSS members were the only Indians in the country.

"When Tarun Vijay said 'we live with blacks', I ask him who is 'we'? Was he referring to BJP/RSS members as the only Indians?," he asked on Twitter.

Chidambaram hails from Tamil Nadu and has been a former finance and home minister.

Vijay had yesterday kicked up a racism row after he appeared to suggest that Indians cannot be called racist as people live with those from south India who are "black".

Vijay's controversial comments during a panel discussion on an international news channel had sparked an outrage with the Congress saying it was shocking while the DMK said it was funny.

Swedish police said on Saturday that a man arrested on "suspicion of terrorist crime" could be the driver of the truck that ploughed into a crowd of people in a busy Stockholm store department.

"We suspect that the man who was arrested is the perpetrator," Stockholm police spokesman Lars Bystrom said.

Sweden on Saturday arrested the man for a terrorist crime hours after a truck ploughed into a crowd outside a busy department store in central Stockholm, killing four and injuring 15.

The man was arrested on suspicion of a terrorist crime through murder, Karin Rosander, a communications director at the Swedish Prosecution Authority said.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is set to become the UN's youngest-ever Messenger of Peace after she was selected by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the highest honour bestowed by the world body on a global citizen.

The designation ceremony will be held next week at the UN's headquarters.

"Even in the face of grave danger, Malala has shown an unwavering commitment to the rights of women, girls and all people," the Secretary-General said on his selection of Yousafzai for the designation.

"Her courageous activism for girls' education has already energised so many people around the world," he said, adding that as the United Nations's youngest-ever Messenger of Peace, she can do even more to help create a more just and peaceful world.

Yousafzai, 19, became a global symbol of the fight for girls education after being shot in the head in October 2012 for opposing Taliban restrictions on female education.

The Pakistani education activist survived the attack and became an advocate for millions of girls denied formal education around the world.

She became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate in December 2014, sharing the honour with Indian children's rights and education advocate Kailash Satyarthi.

Yousafzai is the first Messenger of Peace designated by Guterres.

Sagar Thakkar alias 'Shaggy', the alleged mastermind of the Internal Revenue Service call centre scam in which thousands of Americans were defrauded to the tune of $300 million (Rs 1,928 crore), has been arrested by Thane Police.

According to Thane Police officials, Sagar, who was on the run since the unearthing of the scam last year, was placed under arrest late last night after he arrived at the Mumbai airport following his deportation from Dubai.

The scam, which operated since 2013 through at least half a dozen call centres in Thane, targeted at least 15,000 US-based tax payers, who were allegedly conned by Indian tele-callers.

The US Justice Department has charged 61 people and entities linked to the scam where call centre agents impersonated IRS, immigration and other federal officials and demanded payments for non-existent debts.

A 19-year-old German national, who is on his second visit to India, was stabbed and robbed by two men near Kashmere Gate in north Delhi on Friday, police said on Saturday.

According to police, Benjamin Scolt was returning from Chandni Chowk in a rickshaw on Friday night when he was attacked at around 11pm.

On way to Kashmere Gate from Chandni Chowk in a rickshaw, the driver offered a lift to another (person). The two men stabbed him with a blade or a similar sharp object on his face and robbed him of his phone and wallet, said an officer.

A bleeding Scolt tried fleeing ran towards the Geeta Colony flyover and was spotted by locals who rushed him to a nearby hospital.

Deputy commissioner of police (North) Jatin Narwal said they have registered a case at the Kotwali police station and identified the two men. We will nab the accused, Narwal said.

The Income Tax searches held at the premises of an associate of Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar has revealed routing of Rs 89 crore for 'distribution to voters' in RK Nagar assembly constituency which goes to bypoll on April 12.

According to sources, documents seized during searches at the premises of an accountant of the minister showed details of Rs 89 crore and the money being channeled to RK Nagar through party functionaries.

The amount was channeled through many party functionaries for distribution to voters, the sources said.

"We even found the names of some partymen who are also ministers," an official said, adding, copies of voters list with entries like which voter should be paid what was recovered during searches at the MLA hostel premises.

Meanwhile, searches that began yesterday has ended in most of the total 50 locations. Tasks like recording of statements however continues, they said. -- PTI

10:36 Another Indian man shot dead in US

A 26-year-old Indian man who was working at a gas station in Washington was shot dead by miscreants on April 6, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informs on Twitter.

In a series of tweets, Swaraj wrote:

'I have received a report on the shootout incident resulting in the tragic death of Indian national Vikram Jaryal in Washington State USA.

'The victim was only 26 years old and had reached US only 25 days back. He was working at the gas station of a family friend.

'On 6 April two miscreants entered the shop at 1.30 am. They snatched cash from victim and shot on his chest. This resulted in his death.

'We are coordinating with the investigative agencies. They have got the CCTV footage and are in the process of apprehending the culprits.

'Our consulate in San Francisco is helping the family and following this up with the Police authorities.'

The incident is the latest in series of attacks on Indians, though it is not clear yet whether it was a hate crime.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina will hold talks in New Delhi today.

The two leaders will discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations.

More than 20 pacts are set to be inked after the delegation-level talks.

Two agreements are expected to be signed in the area of defence. India will also extend Line of Credit of $500 million (Rs 3,200 crore) to Bangladesh for defence purchases.

Besides, India will enter into an inter-governmental agreement with the neighbouring country on civil nuclear energy.

Train services, involving West Bengal and Bangladesh and bus service connecting Kolkata and Dhaka will also be launched during the visit.

On Saturday morning, the Bangladesh prime minster was accorded ceremonial reception at the forecourts of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

She also visited Rajghat, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, and laid wreath.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina along with her Indian counterpart will also attend 'Sommanona Ceremony' in the evening to honour the Indian martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the liberation of Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh PM arrived in the national capital yesterday on a four-day visit to India.

In a special gesture, Prime Minister Modi drove to the Delhi airport to receive her. -- ANI

Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter

The United States government is backing down on its effort to unmask an anti-Trump Twitter account, according to a new legal filing.

Twitter (TWTR, Tech30) on Friday said the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has dropped its request for the company to hand over identifying details for the user behind @ALT_uscis.

It is one of many 'alternative' government accounts critical of President Donald Trump, the CNN reported.

This comes less than a day after Twitter filed a lawsuit against the US government to block the request.Twitter said it is now withdrawing the lawsuit as the original request 'no longer has any force or effect'.

Twitter argued in the lawsuit that the government's request is a threat to free speech, which includes 'a right to disseminate such anonymous or pseudonymous political speech'.

Shortly after Trump's inauguration, alternative or 'rogue' Twitter accounts began popping up for the National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, NASA and more.

The accounts claimed to represent the views of government staffers who opposed Trump's policies.

Many, including @ALT_uscis, have tens of thousands of followers.In addition to criticizing the Trump administration, the @ALT_uscis account claimed to reveal improprieties with the CBP and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. -- ANI

10:09 Fire at Kamal Haasan's house

A fire broke out at veteran actor Kamal Haasan's residence in Chennai in the wee hours today, but the actor said he was safe.

'Thanks to my staff. Escaped a fire at my house. Lungs full of smoke, I climbed down from the third floor. I am safe, no one hurt,' he said on Twitter.

He did not mention the cause of fire. -- PTI

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad has refused to to tender an apology to Air India or the staffer he attacked with slippers. Rather, he blamed the AI official for the incident and also called him 'mad'.

"Ghalti uski thi aur use main maafi maangu? Haan sadan se maang li maafi (It was all his (AI official's) fault, and I should apologise? Yes I apologised to the Parliament)," Gaikwad said on Saturday.

He said seven times tickets were booked in his name.

"I did not do it. Who did? I have raised this issue in the Parliament," he said.

"Vo aadmi pagal hai, uske khilaaf aise 8 cases hain jhagda karne ke (that man (AI official) is mad. There are eight cases of assault pending against him)," Gaikwad said.

The national carrier had lifted a ban on Gaikwad yesterday. -- ANI

The death toll in Friday's 'terror attack' in Stockholm has reached four, while 15 others are injured.

A hijacked beer truck ploughed into pedestrians at a central Stockholm department store barely a few meters away from the Indian Embassy.

A nationwide manhunt was launched and one person was arrested today following the latest use of a vehicle as a weapon in Europe.

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven laid a bouquet of red roses and lit a candle near the site of the attack.

Officials announced flags at government offices would fly at half-mast today to honour the victims.

"The country is in a state of shock," he said. "The aim of terrorism is to undermine democracy. But such a goal will never be achieved in Sweden."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Police arrested a man in Marsta, a northern Stockholm suburb close to the city's international airport, as a possible suspect.

The stolen beer truck travelled for more than 500 meters along a main pedestrian street known as the Drottninggatan before it smashed into a crowd outside the upscale Ahlens department store about 3 pm.

It came to rest in the entrance to the building. TV footage showed smoke coming out of the store after the crash. -- Agencies

00:32 Actor Tim Pigott-Smith dies aged 70

The Guardian reports:

Actor Tim Pigott-Smith has died at the age of 70.

His career spanned over four decades on stage and screen. He was awarded an OBE for services to drama last month.

His agent, John Grant, said: "It is with deep regret that I have to announce the sad news that Tim Pigott-Smith died this morning. Tim was one of the great actors of his generation.

"Much-loved and admired by his peers, he will be remembered by many as a gentleman and a true friend.

"He will be much missed. We ask that you respect the privacy of his wife, the actress Pamela Miles, his son Tom and the family."

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