But new details have emerged that one of the attending senior police officers was drunk at the time.

The police special weapons and firearms unit commander was in fact engaged in an another case that night in September 2008. But he chose to also respond to the alarm outside of Luleå, despite the fact that he had consumed whiskey and strong cider, Sveriges Television (SVT) reports.

The operation concerned a man who had been threatened by his 23-year-old son.

According to SVT, which has gained access to the interrogation material in the case, a police officer in attendance felt threatened by the apparently armed 23-year-old and fired 30 shots, spraying both buildings and cars in the vicinity.

No one was hurt by the volley of shots. However the 23-year-old was later injured by another police officer.

Pär G Lindell, the prosecutor at the police internal crimes unit (riksenheten för polismål) in Umeå, later closed the investigation against the police officers.

According to the interrogation material the inebriated senior officer did not only witness the events but was also actively in command. Lindell was unwilling to comment on the details to the SVT programmed “Uppdrag Granskning”.

The firearms unit commander retained his rank and still occupies his post.

Roger Jönsson, information officer at Norrbotten police, says that although he showed a “lack of judgement” it was not sufficient for him to be removed from his position.