February 28 1986: Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme Is Assassinated

ON February 28 1986: Swedish prime minister Olof Palme was assassinated on a Stockholm street.

 

A bouquet of flowers is laid down at the pool of blood on a Stockholm City pavement where Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated shortly before midnight on Friday, Mar. 1, 1986 in Stockholm.

A bouquet of flowers is laid down at the pool of blood on a Stockholm City pavement where Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated shortly before midnight on Friday, Mar. 1, 1986 in Stockholm.

Swedish police technicians sweep the site where Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was slain in Stockholm Friday evening. The search for physical evidence and other clues continued on Saturday, March. 1, 1986 in Stockholm.

Swedish police technicians sweep the site where Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was slain in Stockholm Friday evening. The search for physical evidence and other clues continued on Saturday, March. 1, 1986 in Stockholm.

Olof and and his wife Lisbeth Palme were attacked as they left a cinema at about 2330 local time. He was shot twice. She was shot once.

An avid socialist, he opined:

“I know that the Thatchers and the Reagans will be out in a few years. We have to survive till then.”

 

Mrs. Alva Myrdal, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and her husband Gunner Myrdal were awarded the 1981 Nehru Prize at a ceremony at India Embassy in Stockholm on Thursday on Nov. 18, 1982. Left to right: Mrs. Ambassador-wife Baksi, Sweden'’s Prime Minister Olof Palme, Indian Ambassador to Sweden K. N. Baksi, Mrs. Alva Myrdal, Professor Gunner Myrdal and Sweden Foreign Minister Lennart Bodstroem.

Mrs. Alva Myrdal, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and her husband Gunner Myrdal were awarded the 1981 Nehru Prize at a ceremony at India Embassy in Stockholm on Thursday on Nov. 18, 1982. Left to right: Mrs. Ambassador-wife Baksi, Sweden’’s Prime Minister Olof Palme, Indian Ambassador to Sweden K. N. Baksi, Mrs. Alva Myrdal, Professor Gunner Myrdal and Sweden Foreign Minister Lennart Bodstroem.

 

 

Olof Palme, Special U.N. envoy to the Middle East; leader of Sweden's Social Democratic Party. (AP-Photo) 1980

Olof Palme, Special U.N. envoy to the Middle East; leader of Sweden’s Social Democratic Party. (AP-Photo) 1980

 

Stockholm police commissioner Hans Holmer at Tuesday's news conference on, Mar. 4, 1986 where he announced a 500,000-kronor (70,000-dollar) reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer of Sweden's Prime Minister Olof Palme.

Stockholm police commissioner Hans Holmer at Tuesday’s news conference on, Mar. 4, 1986 where he announced a 500,000-kronor (70,000-dollar) reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer of Sweden’s Prime Minister Olof Palme.

 

The police had a face.

Assistant Chief Constable Ulf Abrahamsson shows the released composite picture at police headquarters in Stockholm Thursday morning.

Assistant Chief Constable Ulf Abrahamsson shows the released composite picture at police headquarters in Stockholm Thursday morning.

 

 

The new Swedish Premier Ingvar Carlsson bows to the coffin with the remains of assassinated late Premier Olof Palme during the funeral service on March 15, 1986 at Stockholm City Hall. Premier Carlsson had addressed the audience before this moment. At center, back to camera, Willy Brandt. Seated.

The new Swedish Premier Ingvar Carlsson bows to the coffin with the remains of assassinated late Premier Olof Palme during the funeral service on March 15, 1986 at Stockholm City Hall. Premier Carlsson had addressed the audience before this moment. At center, back to camera, Willy Brandt. Seated.

 

Christer Pettersson, 42, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder in July 1989.

 

This is a file portrait showing 41 years old Swedish citizen Christer Pettersson, who on Thursday, Dec. 16, 1988, was remanded in custody for the alleged murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986. Palme was shot on a Stockholm street on Feb. 28, 1986.

This is a file portrait showing 41 years old Swedish citizen Christer Pettersson, who on Thursday, Dec. 16, 1988, was remanded in custody for the alleged murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986. Palme was shot on a Stockholm street on Feb. 28, 1986.

 

He didn’t do it.  In October 1989, Pettersson was cleared. No-one had been able to establish motive as why the drug addict had murdered the Prime Minister.

 

Christer Pettersson leaves his home in Sollentuna, north of Stockholm, Sweden Wedesday, May 27, 1998. The Swedish Supreme Court turned down a motion Thursday May 28, 1998 to retry Pettersson once convicted of gunning down Prime minister Olof Palme on a Stockholm Street. Prosecutors had sought a new trial for Christer Pettersson, whose conviction in the 1986 killing was later overturned for lack of sufficient evidence

Christer Pettersson leaves his home in Sollentuna, north of Stockholm, Sweden Wedesday, May 27, 1998. The Swedish Supreme Court turned down a motion Thursday May 28, 1998 to retry Pettersson once convicted of gunning down Prime minister Olof Palme on a Stockholm Street. Prosecutors had sought a new trial for Christer Pettersson, whose conviction in the 1986 killing was later overturned for lack of sufficient evidence

 

Pettersson died in September 2004. There are reports that he confessed to the killing before his death.

But the investigation remains open.

In November 2006 police found the murder weapon in a central Sweden lake.

 

Lisbet Palme, wife of Sweden's Prime Minister Olof Palme (unseen) chatting with Andrew who is having treatment, during a visit to the Psychiatric Day Centre at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, England on April 7, 1970.

Lisbet Palme, wife of Sweden’s Prime Minister Olof Palme (unseen) chatting with Andrew who is having treatment, during a visit to the Psychiatric Day Centre at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, England on April 7, 1970.

 

Who killed the leader, and why?

 

 

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