Police were called to Sahlin’s home in the Stockholm suburb of Nacka at 10.53am on Thursday morning. Roughly half a dozen squad cars responded to the call.

“Someone rattled the door. A person was seen fleeing the scene. She (Sahlin) is among those who have a personal security detail, which resulted in the large response,” police spokesperson Sven-Erik Olsson told the TT news agency.

In addition to the officers at Sahlin’s home, dogs and a police helicopter have also joined the search for the suspect.

“We have no other description other than that a person wearing dark clothes was seen leaving the area,” said Olsson.

Sahlin’s spokesperson, Camila Peirone Buzaglo, refused to comment on the matter.

“We never comment on security matters. And we’re not going to do so now, but (Swedish security service ) Säpo has everything under control,” she said.

Peirone Buzaglo also refused to comment on whether or not Sahlin was home at the time of the incident.

According to the Expressen newspaper, Sahlin was at home with her son and called the police herself.

“Yeah, as far as I know that seems to be the case,” duty officer Christer Angeria of the Nacka police told the newspaper.

Despite the massive manhunt, no arrests were made.

“We have no suspect,” Stockholm police spokesman Ulf Goeranzon told AFP, adding that the operation launched near Sahlin’s home in Nacka, a Stockholm suburb, had been called off.

Sahlin, 53, who was reportedly at home during the intrusion, later told reporters outside parliament she was fine.

“I’m good. The family is fine, I will move on and work as usual,” she told a reporter from the Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) newspaper.

“This had been my every day (situation) for many, many years and I think everyone can understand why I won’t comment anything to do with security matters,” she added.

Sahlin, who heads the Social Democrat party, has said she will step down at her party’s congress next month.