Prosecutor Petra Hedberg is leading the preliminary investigation, which is being handled by the Skellefteå police.
It was on Monday that Skellefteå police and emergency services, including an ambulance helicopter, were called to a property in Boliden. This followed reports of a very serious medical situation involving a small child in the home.
Prosecutor Petra Hedberg, who is leading the preliminary investigation, tells Norran:
– The child had already died when police and others arrived at the scene. Based on the initial circumstances, which I do not wish to specify further, the decision was made to investigate the death without any assumptions: what caused the child to die and who was present at the time of the incident.
As the investigation progressed, the case was provisionally classified as gross negligence causing death.
A prosecutor was appointed as head of the investigation because the case involves the death of a small child and the circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear.
When a case like this is given a serious criminal classification, it also means that police can make use of what’s known as the “police toolbox” – a range of investigative measures used when more serious crimes are suspected.
Hedberg continues:
– The circumstances reported to us initially support the current criminal classification, but it doesn’t take much to make that classification at this early stage. The suspicion of gross negligence causing death remains in place as of Tuesday.
Forensic police were at the property on Monday to carry out a crime scene investigation.
What are the most important investigative steps right now?
– Several interviews are to be conducted, and we’re also waiting for a preliminary autopsy report from forensic medicine, says Hedberg.
An ambulance helicopter was called to the property in Boliden on Monday (archive photo).
Have any individuals been arrested or taken into custody?
– Two people have been brought in for questioning today, Tuesday, where they will be informed of the suspicions. Then we’ll see what the interviews reveal.
Petra Hedberg is otherwise cautious about giving further details for investigative reasons – for example, regarding the extent of the child’s injuries and similar matters.
The case is being investigated by police in Skellefteå. Johann Kristiansson says:
– It’s a sensitive case, so I’m not able to release any information at this time. We’re being cautious with what we share, due to the confidentiality of the preliminary investigation.
Police spokesperson Åsa Mjörndal confirms, based on witness reports from Boliden residents submitted to Norran, that the police did not dispatch a helicopter to the scene.
However, an ambulance helicopter was alerted – but the young child had already died by the time police and paramedics arrived at the property.
Norran is seeking further information about the incident.