Main suspect in Stockholm attack admits to terrorist crimeApril 11, 2017 - 13:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Rakhmat Akilov, the main suspect in the truck attack in Stockholm that killed four people and injured 15, has admitted to committing a terrorist crime, his lawyer told a court on Tuesday, April 11, according to Reuters. Police believe Akilov, a 39-year-old from the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan, was the driver of the hijacked beer truck that mowed down pedestrians on a busy street in the Swedish capital on Friday before crashing into a department store. "His position is that he admits to a terrorist crime and accepts therefore that he will be detained," Johan Eriksson, the lawyer representing him said in a court hearing to decide whether he should be kept in custody. Akilov, who entered the courtroom with a green sweater over his head before being seated between his lawyer and translator, was arrested just hours after the attack. He was arrested on the highest level of suspicion in the Swedish legal system. Akilov was already wanted by police for failing to comply with a deportation order. Security services said he had expressed sympathies with extremist organisations, among them Islamic State, but had not viewed him as a militant threat. Akilov had asked for his defence lawyer to be replaced by a Sunni Muslim, but a court denied his request, documents showed. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |