Three male upper-secondary students in their late teens have been detained following a police operation at the Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket (SSHL) boarding school in Sigtuna, Sweden. According to documents reviewed by SVT Nyheter, the offences under investigation are aggravated sexual assault, aggravated unlawful coercion and assault. The alleged crimes are said to have taken place between 1 and 3 October, and there are three complainants who are minors.
The detentions followed a large police presence at the school on Thursday afternoon. The Swedish Prosecution Authority described the incident as being of a serious nature.
Why it matters
The case involves a well-known independent boarding school, and the allegations concern violence and sexual offences against minors. Prosecutors have signalled that the inquiry is at an early but active stage, with multiple interviews planned. The school has told students and guardians that it is in contact with police and has brought in additional adults on site, while its chief executive says day-to-day operations will continue as normal.
Prosecutor confirms intensive investigation
Prosecutor Lisa Dos Santos said in a press release that an intensive investigation is under way and that a number of interviews will be conducted. She did not provide further detail about the allegations.
The three detained students are all in their late teens and attend the upper-secondary programme. Swedish media, including Expressen and Svenska Dagbladet, have also reported that students were arrested and that three pupils were held on suspicion of a serious offence.
Lawyers representing two of the detained students declined to comment on the substance of the allegations. Hanna Lindblom, who represents one of them, said she could not say anything at this point given her client's young age. Henrik Olsson Lilja, who represents another of the suspects, said he could not comment now, that interviews with his client are to come, and that he could not discuss how his client responds to the accusations.
School says it is cooperating with police
In an email to students and guardians that Expressen has seen, the school wrote that it understands the situation creates worry and many questions, that it is in contact with police, and that it will return with information it can share during the day. The message said the school's current focus is on the students and that extra adults are present.
Headteacher Kerry Browning told SVT that the school is cooperating with police but does not want to comment on the incident. According to the school's chief executive, Sofia Kinberg, activities will continue as usual.
SSHL is an independent upper-secondary and boarding school in Sigtuna. It was formed in 1980 through a merger of Sigtunaskolan and Sigtunastiftelsens Humanistiska Läroverk, both of which were founded in the 1920s.
The school has around 600 students, of whom roughly 220 live on campus. Its students come from about 30 different countries. Boarders live in dedicated houses on the school grounds, with about 25 to 30 students in each. According to the school, seven houses are in operation — four for girls and three for boys — and each has house parents responsible for supporting and caring for the students.
The school is run by the Sigtuna School Foundation, with the Sigtunastiftelsen and the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation as its principals, and it is not profit-driven. Its former students include King Carl XVI Gustaf, Povel Ramel and Olof Palme.
What to watch
Investigators are expected to continue interviews in the coming days, and prosecutors will decide whether the detentions are to be extended or the suspects released as the inquiry proceeds.
