Yesterday marked the start of the summer holidays for many, but it was not to be a calm evening of celebration for police forces around Sweden. A series of assaults of varying degrees of violence and outbreaks of drunkenness were reported in several areas, several of which occurred in the capital, reports news agency TT.

In Bro, north of the Stockholm, a man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after a stabbing incident involving another man in his 20s while a couple of people were taken to hospital with injuries from broken bottles, after fighting broke out in Åkersberga and Hässelby.

Stockholm was not alone though. In Värmland, western Sweden an 18-year-old man died as the result of an alcohol related hit and run accident. The incident occurred in Lysvik, close to Torsby where a 23-year-old was later arrested on charges of manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Elsewhere, police reported a stabbing incident in Alingsås, western Sweden, and across the land the were reports of several incidents of drunken behaviour as many schools celebrated the final day of term.

However, Ivan Åslund, a senior police officer in Västerås was quick to defend the students.

“You could put the blame on them , but in over 20 cases, only one student was arrested. Young people have been partying but they have been looking after each other,” he said.