Mijailo Mijailovic
Encyclopedia
Mijailo Mijailović is the self-confessed and convicted assassin
of the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs
Anna Lindh
, whom he stabbed on 10 September 2003 at the NK department store
in Stockholm. Lindh died early the following day after unsuccessful surgical treatment to try to save her life.
). When he was 6 years old, he was sent to live with his paternal grandparents in Serbia, where he went to school. He returned to Sweden when the Yugoslav wars
began. He finished school in 1995, with a grade of 3,4 (out of total 5). He enrolled in Swedish high school but dropped out in the second grade, his school mates remember him as a lone wolf.
In 1997, at 18 years old, he stabbed his father and was convicted of aggravated assault. His father was an alcoholic, and often assaulted Mijailo's mother and the children.
In June 1999, he was convicted of holding illegal arms; he had a knife on him. In April, the same year, he threatened a young girl and her mother.
Anna Lindh
, while she was shopping in the ladies' department at the NK department store
in central Stockholm
. Lindh was stabbed in her chest, stomach and arms. The minister was rushed to a hospital and underwent extensive surgery, but died the following morning. Mijailović was able to flee the scene after the crime, but was arrested two weeks later with the help of surveillance photos from the department store.
Swedish newspapers have suggested that Mijailović was released from a mental institution
just five days before the killing of Lindh, that he has serious mental problems, and had previously been convicted of violent crimes. His motive was not considered political, although Mijailović shortly after his arrest was identified on a photograph as standing in the front row of a crowd adhering to Liberal People's Party
chairman Lars Leijonborg
delivering a speech. A pamphlet taken from the party's electoral cabin was as well retrieved along the belongings he had dumped shortly after the murder.
On 6 January 2004, after being presented with the evidence against him, Mijailović confessed to the police that he had stabbed Anna Lindh, without the intention to kill her. He said "I'm not interested in politics," he said. "It could have been someone other than Anna Lindh. I have nothing personal against Anna Lindh." The court trial against Mijailović took place 14–17 January 2004. He was found guilty, but the sentencing was postponed to await the recommendations of a psychiatric evaluation ordered by the court.
On 9 March, a report concluded that Mijailović was not considered to be criminally insane at the time of the assassination, and on March 23, he was sentenced to life imprisonment
. However, on July 8, an appeals court overturned that sentence after tests had concluded that he was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the killing. As a result of the appeals court decision, Mijailović was taken from prison to a closed psychiatric ward.
Mijailović was for some time a citizen of both Serbia and Montenegro
and of Sweden
, but after the crime applied to have his Swedish citizenship revoked. His application was granted by the Swedish National Migration Board
on 20 September 2004; however this did not have any effect on the judicial process.
On 2 December 2004, Mijailović was sentenced by the Supreme Court of Sweden
to life imprisonment for the killing of Anna Lindh, overruling the appeals court judgement. He has since attempted to have himself relocated to a Serbian prison, expressing fear for his life. As of 2010, these attempts have been without success.
, his first such interview since his arrest, in which he provided new details about the murder of Lindh. Mijailović explains in the interview that the murder was motivated by his hatred of politicians, whom he considered responsible for his hopeless life situation and the fact that he was a "man without a future".
Mijailović had met Lindh at the entrance of the NK department store
, when Lindh was on her way in. Mijailović recognized her and decided to attack her. After gathering courage for a moment he went into the store looking for Lindh on several floors before he finally found her and carried out the attack. He then fled the scene, expecting the police would soon apprehend him. Mijailović claims not to have been mentally ill at the time. "Feeling bad is not the same as being sick" he explained. The reason that he tried to appear as being mentally ill following his arrest was his belief that life in a psychiatric clinic would be easier than in a prison.
Mijailović also revealed in the interview that he had wanted to attack the politician Lars Leijonborg
the day before the murder of Lindh (see above), but that he did not have his knife with him at the time. Mijailović says he now realizes that it was wrong to blame his own failures in life on politicians and that he has caused a lot of sorrow. He declined in the Expressen interview to say anything to Lindh's children stating that "You can´t commit a murder and then just say you are sorry". Mijailović said he realizes that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars being "Sweden's most hated man". In Expressen's article the prosecutor in the case, Krister Petersson, confirms that the information Mijailović provides in the interview is the same as that he recently gave to investigators. The prosecutor deems Mijailović´s new information as credible.
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the foreign minister of Sweden and the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.The office was instituted in 1809 as a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Foreign...
Anna Lindh
Anna Lindh
Ylva Anna Maria Lindh was a Swedish Social Democratic politician, Chairman of the Social Democratic Youth League 1984-1990, Member of Parliament 1982-1985 and 1998-2003...
, whom he stabbed on 10 September 2003 at the NK department store
Nordiska Kompaniet
Nordiska Kompaniet is the name of two department stores located in Stockholm and Gothenburg, in Sweden....
in Stockholm. Lindh died early the following day after unsuccessful surgical treatment to try to save her life.
Early life
Mijailo was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 6, 1978 to Serbian parents from the town of Mladenovac. His parents immigrated to Sweden in the late 60s during the arbetskraftsinvandring (see related gastarbeiterGastarbeiter
Gastarbeiter is German for "guest worker." It refers to migrant workers who had moved to West Germany mainly in the 1960s and 70s, seeking work as part of a formal guest worker programme...
). When he was 6 years old, he was sent to live with his paternal grandparents in Serbia, where he went to school. He returned to Sweden when the Yugoslav wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
began. He finished school in 1995, with a grade of 3,4 (out of total 5). He enrolled in Swedish high school but dropped out in the second grade, his school mates remember him as a lone wolf.
In 1997, at 18 years old, he stabbed his father and was convicted of aggravated assault. His father was an alcoholic, and often assaulted Mijailo's mother and the children.
In June 1999, he was convicted of holding illegal arms; he had a knife on him. In April, the same year, he threatened a young girl and her mother.
Assassination and conviction
On the afternoon of September 10 2003 Mijailo Mijailović attacked Swedish Minister for Foreign AffairsMinister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the foreign minister of Sweden and the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.The office was instituted in 1809 as a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Foreign...
Anna Lindh
Anna Lindh
Ylva Anna Maria Lindh was a Swedish Social Democratic politician, Chairman of the Social Democratic Youth League 1984-1990, Member of Parliament 1982-1985 and 1998-2003...
, while she was shopping in the ladies' department at the NK department store
Nordiska Kompaniet
Nordiska Kompaniet is the name of two department stores located in Stockholm and Gothenburg, in Sweden....
in central Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. Lindh was stabbed in her chest, stomach and arms. The minister was rushed to a hospital and underwent extensive surgery, but died the following morning. Mijailović was able to flee the scene after the crime, but was arrested two weeks later with the help of surveillance photos from the department store.
Swedish newspapers have suggested that Mijailović was released from a mental institution
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
just five days before the killing of Lindh, that he has serious mental problems, and had previously been convicted of violent crimes. His motive was not considered political, although Mijailović shortly after his arrest was identified on a photograph as standing in the front row of a crowd adhering to Liberal People's Party
Liberal People's Party (Sweden)
The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
chairman Lars Leijonborg
Lars Leijonborg
Lars Erik Ansgar Leijonborg is a Swedish politician, Minister for Higher Education and Research 2006-2009 and Head of the Ministry of Education and Research 2006-2007...
delivering a speech. A pamphlet taken from the party's electoral cabin was as well retrieved along the belongings he had dumped shortly after the murder.
On 6 January 2004, after being presented with the evidence against him, Mijailović confessed to the police that he had stabbed Anna Lindh, without the intention to kill her. He said "I'm not interested in politics," he said. "It could have been someone other than Anna Lindh. I have nothing personal against Anna Lindh." The court trial against Mijailović took place 14–17 January 2004. He was found guilty, but the sentencing was postponed to await the recommendations of a psychiatric evaluation ordered by the court.
On 9 March, a report concluded that Mijailović was not considered to be criminally insane at the time of the assassination, and on March 23, he was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
. However, on July 8, an appeals court overturned that sentence after tests had concluded that he was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the killing. As a result of the appeals court decision, Mijailović was taken from prison to a closed psychiatric ward.
Mijailović was for some time a citizen of both Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
and of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, but after the crime applied to have his Swedish citizenship revoked. His application was granted by the Swedish National Migration Board
Swedish National Migration Board
Swedish National Migration Board is a Swedish government agency that answers to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The agency is located in Norrköping....
on 20 September 2004; however this did not have any effect on the judicial process.
On 2 December 2004, Mijailović was sentenced by the Supreme Court of Sweden
Supreme Court of Sweden
The Supreme Court of Sweden is the supreme court and the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. Before a case can be decided by the Supreme Court, leave to appeal must be obtained, and with few exceptions, leave to appeal can be granted only when the case is of...
to life imprisonment for the killing of Anna Lindh, overruling the appeals court judgement. He has since attempted to have himself relocated to a Serbian prison, expressing fear for his life. As of 2010, these attempts have been without success.
2011 interview
In August 2011 Mijailović gave an interview in the Swedish newspaper ExpressenExpressen
Expressen is one of two nationwide evening tabloid newspapers in Sweden, the other being Aftonbladet. Expressen was founded in 1944; its symbol is a wasp and slogans "it stings" or "Expressen to your rescue", always on the reader's side....
, his first such interview since his arrest, in which he provided new details about the murder of Lindh. Mijailović explains in the interview that the murder was motivated by his hatred of politicians, whom he considered responsible for his hopeless life situation and the fact that he was a "man without a future".
Mijailović had met Lindh at the entrance of the NK department store
Nordiska Kompaniet
Nordiska Kompaniet is the name of two department stores located in Stockholm and Gothenburg, in Sweden....
, when Lindh was on her way in. Mijailović recognized her and decided to attack her. After gathering courage for a moment he went into the store looking for Lindh on several floors before he finally found her and carried out the attack. He then fled the scene, expecting the police would soon apprehend him. Mijailović claims not to have been mentally ill at the time. "Feeling bad is not the same as being sick" he explained. The reason that he tried to appear as being mentally ill following his arrest was his belief that life in a psychiatric clinic would be easier than in a prison.
Mijailović also revealed in the interview that he had wanted to attack the politician Lars Leijonborg
Lars Leijonborg
Lars Erik Ansgar Leijonborg is a Swedish politician, Minister for Higher Education and Research 2006-2009 and Head of the Ministry of Education and Research 2006-2007...
the day before the murder of Lindh (see above), but that he did not have his knife with him at the time. Mijailović says he now realizes that it was wrong to blame his own failures in life on politicians and that he has caused a lot of sorrow. He declined in the Expressen interview to say anything to Lindh's children stating that "You can´t commit a murder and then just say you are sorry". Mijailović said he realizes that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars being "Sweden's most hated man". In Expressen's article the prosecutor in the case, Krister Petersson, confirms that the information Mijailović provides in the interview is the same as that he recently gave to investigators. The prosecutor deems Mijailović´s new information as credible.
External links
- BBC Profile: Mijailo Mijailović
- Head photo, published by El MundoEl Mundo (Spain)El Mundo is the second largest printed and the largest digital daily newspaper in Spain and one of the newspapers of record in that country, with a daily circulation topping 300,000 readers for the printed edition and 24 million unique web visitors per month for the...
.
