A 38-year-old man suspected of three murders in a series of sniper attacks that appeared to target immigrants in southern Sweden on Monday voluntarily agreed to remain in custody a further 14 days, according to dpa. The decision was announced after prosecutor Solveig Wolstad filed an application for more time to complete the investigation. In November, the district court in Malmo remanded him in custody on suspicion of one murder and five attempted murders between October 2009 and August 2010. At the end of December, prosecutors linked him to two further murders committed in 2003 and a further five suspected shootings between 2006 and 2010. The man has denied the allegations. While in custody he had undergone tests conducted by a forensic psychiatrist. They suggest he suffered from a mental disturbance. The first known murder linked to the man was committed in October 2009 when a 20-year-old woman was shot and killed while she was sitting in her car. Her male companion was seriously injured. Most of the victims were attacked from behind or shot at through the windows of homes or shops. A special police unit was set up weeks ago to hunt for the gunman as the attacks began to cause panic in Malmo, which has a high immigrant population.
