The short hostage drama in Gryksbo, north of Falun, ended in undramatic fashion when police stormed the 30-year-old man’s apartment and found the infant asleep and in good health.

Police in the Dalarna region were alerted to the situation by the child’s maternal grandmother at 9.30pm on Sunday.

The 26-year-old mother said she had fled the father’s apartment after he had threatened to kill her. He had not allowed her to take the child.

“The prosecutor ordered the raid after questioning the mother,” said police spokesman Sten O Sabel.

Police received instructions to tread carefully as the child’s father was known by the authorities to have a violent past.

At 2.40pm, the special police unit stormed into the apartment and were soon able to reunite th child with its mother.

The father was arrested and taken to Falun, where he is to be questioned by police on Monday.