Stockholm marks anniversary of deadly truck attack

STOCKHOLM, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A memorial service and concert were held in central Stockholm on Saturday to mark one-year anniversary of the truck attack which killed four and injured 15 others.

The commemoration began at noon, with a memorial service at the Adolf Fredrik Church, located just a block away from Drottninggatan, the pedestrian street where the attack took place on April 7 last year when an Uzbek national rammed a hijacked truck into the crowds on the busy shopping street.

Relatives of victims, people directly affected by the attack, police officers and medical and emergency services personnel were among those who attended the church service, in addition to several government ministers and Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.

The service was followed by an afternoon concert at a public square in the city center, organized by the City of Stockholm to honor the victims and their families.

According to a statement on the government's website, the aim of the memorial event was to "remind us all that Stockholm is and should be an open and democratic city".

Addressing the crowds at the event, which was also attended by members of the royal family, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said: "I hope that those of you who are grieving, those who were injured, those who bear the wounds of that day, feel the love, support and solidarity from an entire nation, and not least from all of us gathered here today."

A number of Swedish artists performed during the memorial event and in-between performances, there were speeches by first responders who worked on the day of the attack as well as members of the public who helped injured people.

People also laid down flowers at the site of the terror attack and there were several other memorial services and concerts in the city on Saturday, including one in honor of an 11-year-old girl who was the youngest victim of the attack. Enditem