It was early in the morning, around 7 am, when a passerby discovered the hand grenade next to the sidewalk on Skeppsbron and alerted the police, says Ola Österling.
Then we began evacuating the area and people are being accommodated in adjacent buildings, he says.
The police have cordoned off part of Gamla Stan in Stockholm and the National Bomb Squad is on site. A controlled explosion was carried out at 9:15 am. The police urged people in the vicinity to cover their ears, reports TT's reporter on site.
"Unpleasant"
Marita Brorsson, on a temporary visit to Gamla Stan, had her morning walk interrupted and cannot return to her accommodation.
It's a bit unpleasant, she says.
At Cafe Nova on Järntorget, morning deliveries were cancelled. Customers are worried, reports Tuss Högström.
It was a live hand grenade. People aren't coming to work, they're sitting here and working instead.
Near the Palace
The hand grenade was found on Skeppsbron, midway between the Royal Palace and Slussen, slightly closer to the palace.
Skeppsbron is closed between Guldbron and the Royal Palace, which is not expected to be affected by the cordons. Traffic from Guldbron is being diverted. According to the Transport Agency, this is causing significant traffic disruption. The Coast Guard is working to maintain the cordon on the water.
We've had a few boats entering the risk area, so we've also engaged the Coast Guard to keep vessels and boats away from the quay along Skeppsbron, says Ola Österling, police spokesperson.
The police have launched a criminal investigation into attempted gross public destruction, but no one has been arrested.
