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Death raises concern over security
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- The stabbing death of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh has shocked many citizens of this normally peaceful and open country. It has also raised questions about the level of security given Swedish politicians. Lindh, 46, died after being attacked by an identified man while shopping Wednesday at an upscale Stockholm store. She was stabbed several times in the chest, stomach and arms. (Full story) Police said the attack, coming just days before a national referendum on adopting the single European currency, did not appear to be politically motivated. Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persso, speaking to reporters Thursday, said the Scandinavian country's image had been damaged by the killing. "The attack against her also hurt the society we've built up and in which we want to live in," he said. "For the Swedish people it brings back all the old horrible memories of ... Palme. It might mean Swedish politicians need security guards everywhere they go from now on," Reuters quoted Green Party leader Peter Eriksson as saying. "I sincerely hope it doesn't lead to that." Lisa Grensfors, of Swedish television, said Lindh's death was a great shock to the nation of nine million people. "It will be a long time until Sweden recovers from this." she told CNN. "Swedish politicians have taken pride in being accessible to the people. She had had a bodyguard at certain times when police thought there was a threat against her." Only Persson and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf have personal security details, said Lars Danielsson, a senior government aide. He said the government was reassessing security, but did not say if ministers would be provided with bodyguards, The Associated Press reported. Sweden and other Scandinavian countries are relatively immune to political violence, unlike other parts of Europe. Politicians in Sweden are often seen walking along the street or riding subways without police protection. In neighboring Denmark, Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller can be spotted grocery shopping on Saturdays without police protection. But other parts of Europe have not been spared violence against politicians. In the Netherlands, anti-immigration politician Pim Fortuyn was shot to death by an animal rights activist in May 2002. Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was assassinated in March by allies of Slobodan Milosevic seeking to topple his pro-Western government. Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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