31 weapons and Nazi items seized in Vimmerby – man charged with serious arms offence
A 35-year-old man from Vimmerby is being prosecuted for serious arms offence after police found 31 weapons and Nazi items in his home. The prosecutor is seeking at least six years' imprisonment.
Man in Vimmerby charged following discovery of 31 weapons and Nazi items
A 35-year-old man from Vimmerby appeared in court this week at Kalmar district court, charged with serious arms offence. This is reported by Expressen. Police found 31 weapons, more than 11,500 rounds of ammunition and a number of items with links to Nazism in the man's home and in a storage facility to which he had access.
The day before New Year's Eve, police in Vimmerby municipality stopped the man on suspicion of driving under the influence. The decision to conduct a house search led to one of Sweden's largest weapons seizures ever, according to SVT Småland.
Among the seized weapons were several types of rifles, pistols, two semi-automatic shotguns and a machine gun – all without a licence. The flat also contained a large number of knives, brass knuckles and similar weapons.
On a shelf in the living room stood a bust depicting Adolf Hitler. Police also found caps and mugs with swastikas, fabric badges with Nazi symbols, a wall hanging with a swastika and a Nazi uniform hanging on a clothes rail in the guest room.
The prosecutor considers the offence particularly serious given the quantity of weapons. In the indictment, the prosecutor writes: "The act has also been of a particularly dangerous nature since NN has stored, handled and used weapons and ammunition in a manner that posed a risk of harm to other persons."
In his police interview, the man states that the weapons belonged to an elderly relative and that he was unaware they required a licence. He describes himself as a collector with a keen interest in weapons – "bloody fascinating", in his own words.
When asked about the Nazi items, he responds: "I'm not political if that's what you're asking, I'm not. Collecting stuff."
The prosecutor is seeking at least six years' imprisonment, according to Vimmerby tidning. Judgment will be delivered on 10 November.
Source: Expressen