Swedish foreign minister Anna Lindh died this morning from multiple stab wounds which was afflicted to her yesterday evening when she was attacked at a shopping mall in central Stockholm. The murderer is still at large and there are, as far as I know, no suspects. There are, however, a lot of witnesses.

Anna Lindh was a prominent supporter of EMU and a key figure in the campaign for Sweden to adopt the Euro currency in the upcoming referendum this Sunday. The issue has been raised, but it is still undecided if the referendum will be delayed; some would probably want a delay to separate the issues, while others don't want an assailant to be able to disrupt democracy. I believe the referendum will go off on Sunday as planned.

Update: All political parties have ceased their campaign activities. Both sides now jointly encourage people simply to vote; to demonstrate their faith and commitment to democracy and our open society. The referendum will go off on Sunday as planned.

While the goverment has a staff of security personell, only the prime minister and the (symbolic) King have personal bodyguards. Therefore, Anna was without protection when she was attacked at the exclusive shopping mall yesterday evening.

In Sweden, politicians and celebrities walk the streets unescorted like any other person; they can be seen, met and approached at restaurants, cinemas, and as it were: shopping malls. This is how we like it to be; politicians, celebrities as well as the regular people. Questions has been raised if this means that the time for accessible high-profile politicians is over.

To many Swedes, myself included although I was quite young at the time, this rips up memories of when prime minister Olof Palme was shot dead 17 years ago, not far from where Anna was attacked. Palme's killer was never caught. While Palme was a popular but controversial politician in his time, outspoken in national and international matters, Anna Lindh wasn't controversial at all, she was very popular, trusted, and was thought of as a probable successor to prime minister Göran Persson.

As foreign minister, Anna often represented Sweden in international matters and was thought of as the face of Sweden. European leaders and ministers, many of which were close friends of her, as well as US foreign minister Colin Powell have expressed their sympathies and condolences. Colin Powell has previously said that there are three things about Sweden he is particularly fond of: "Abba, Volvo and Anna".

Nobody knows for sure why the assailant ran up to her at the escalator, chased her into a department store, hit her over the head twice and proceeded to stab her several times, but the only reasonable motive seems to be the political one.

Update: Witnesses report that the assailant was sighted "kicking" a campaign poster with Anna's picture on it.

The fact that she's dead seems unreal to me; yesterday she was alive and well, popular and loved. She left one husband, two children and just shy of nine million Swedish supporters across the political landscape.

I have no more words.

Other's words (in English):

• Torgny Bjers
• Stefan Geens 1, 2, 3
• Francis Strand
• Gustav Holmberg
• New York Times

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