- 500 people in the large office building were evacuated by mask-wearing police
- Sweden expects to be admitted to NATO on Monday after the vote in Hungary
A mysterious ‘gas leak’ at Sweden’s security office left seven people in hospital today, three days before the country is set to overcome the final hurdle to joining NATO.
500 people in the office were evacuated by police after an ‘unknown substance’ was released at the headquarters in Solna, Stockholm County.
This comes as concerns about foreign threats have increased in the run-up to the NATO decision.
Only earlier this week did the intelligence community release a report warning of the threat posed by foreign state actors, particularly Russia, China and Iran, reminiscent of Russia’s historic disdain for a growing NATO.
The area around the office was locked down while mask-wearing officers handled the situation.
The cause of the expected leak remains unclear.
The area around the office was locked down while mask-wearing officers handled the situation
Also today, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest. Hungary is the last country to vote on Sweden’s membership.
Swedish Security Service spokeswoman Karin Lutz said they had taken action and “emergency services are on the scene” after receiving an alarm.
Police said an area of ”a few hundred meters” around the building was closed due to “a possible gas leak.”
Police and emergency services attended the scene and some of those taken to hospital were officers who had ‘smelled an odor when they arrived’.
Around 4:30 p.m., police reported that the operation had ended.
Patrik Soderberg, chief physician at the local healthcare authority Stockholm Region, said: “Today around 1 p.m. there were indications that a hazardous substance was present at (the) offices.
‘So far, five people have been taken to hospital with respiratory complaints and there are also two people who have sought treatment for respiratory complaints themselves.’
AFP reported that Sweden is currently on high alert.
The country expects to clear the final hurdle in its bid to join NATO on Monday, with Hungary set to vote on ratifying its membership in the final delay.
The country has been waiting for almost two years since it applied to become a member in May 2022.
Finland applied at the same time and was welcomed into NATO last April.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest
According to AxiosPublic support for NATO membership in the Nordic countries skyrocketed almost overnight after Russia invaded Ukraine, with strong majorities in both countries in favor of joining the alliance.
It seems very likely that Sweden will become a member, as only Hungary can still cast its vote.
In 2022, Sweden’s then Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson pointed to Russia’s actions as a reason to join the defense body.
When NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Finland to the alliance last April, he said: “President Putin wanted to slam the door on NATO.
“Today we showed the world that he has failed, that aggression and intimidation do not work.
‘Instead of less NATO, he has achieved the opposite: more NATO. And our door remains firmly open.”