A 15-year-old asylum seeker has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a refugee centre worker was stabbed to death in Sweden. Alexandra Mezher (pictured above) was killed yesterday, January 25, while working at the refugee centre for unaccompanied minors in the town of Molndal, near Gothenburg. Sweden is a prime destination for refugees, and took in more than 160,000 asylum seekers in 2015.
The suspect, who was staying at the centre for 14 to 17-year-olds, was reportedly held down by other residents and employees until police arrived. Police in Sweden said the 22-year-old victim, who was originally from Lebanon, was taken to hospital for treatment but succumbed to her wounds.
According to Press spokesman Thomas Fuxborg:
"He had been overpowered by other residents, people were down and upset. These kinds of calls are becoming more and more common. We're dealing with more incidents like these since the arrival of so many more refugees from abroad."
The identity or nationality of the 15-year-old suspect has not been revealed by the police and the motive for the attack was not immediately clear. Swedish Radio said the other residents of the home were moved to new accommodation.
