A TOP psychiatrist was stabbed to death today in front of horrified crowds at a political festival on the Swedish island of Gotland.
Ing-Marie Wieselgren, 64, who worked for the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, was hailed as one of “the strongest voices for mental health”.
Ing-Marie Wieselgren was stabbed to death on the Swedish island of Gotland[/caption]
Cops and bystanders battled to save Ing-Marie Wieselgren but she sadly died[/caption]
Police arrested a man – out of view in this image – shortly after the stabbing[/caption]
Carola Gunnarsson, president of the association, said: “We have lost an appreciated and cherished co-worker, colleagues have lost a good friend and all of Sweden has lost one of its strongest voices for mental health.”
Ing-Marie was stabbed to death in front of shocked onlookers in the city of Visby – which is currently hosting a gathering of the country’s political parties – shortly before 2pm.
Bystanders battled to save her before she was rushed to hospital, but sadly died from her injuries, cops confirmed.
Police chief Fredrik Persson said a 33-year-old man was arrested nearby shortly after the fatal stabbing.
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He was arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody.
According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, the suspect was believed to have links to the neo-Nazi group NMR.
Persson said: “Currently there is an intense investigation under way. Part of that is to establish a motive and background of the arrested.”
He said there were a series of questions they were probing “since it happened in a very public place, where there was a lot of people in central Visby in the middle of the day”.
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Cops didn’t comment on a motive, but Persson said a political motive could not be ruled out.
The week-long political festival is an annual event which draws thousands of people as politicians hold speeches and mingle with voters and tourists.
Tributes have flooded in for the much-loved psychiatrist.
Anna Ekstrom, Sweden’s Education Minister, paid tribute to Ing-Marie on Twitter, writing: “A life has been extinguished in the open square, in the open city.
“I am thinking of you, your family, friends and colleagues.
“Sorrow, anger, strong determination to stand up for human dignity and not let violence prevail.
“We are building an open city, not a fortified one, together. Rest in peace, sister.”
Jan Eliasson, the former deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, said: “Violence and fear must not take over. The fight for the rule of law, freedom and democracy more important than ever.”
Lena Hallengren, Sweden’s Minister for Health and Social Affairs, described Ing-Marie as an “inspiration”.
She said: “For me, Ing-Marie has been an important source of knowledge and inspiration in the work against mental illness.
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“My thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues.”
Magnus Ranstorp, a leading terrorism expert and vice chair of Nordic Safe Cities, said her death was “a great and incomprehensible loss”.
