Latest news with #Olofsson
New York Post
28-06-2025
- New York Post
Clark Olofsson, notorious criminal who inspired the term ‘Stockholm syndrome,' dead at 78
Clark Olofsson, the captivating bank robber who inspired the term 'Stockholm syndrome,' has died at the age of 78, his family announced. Olofsson, who became a legend in the Nordic country for multiple prison breaks, gun-toting bank robberies, and larger-than-life charm, died at Arvika Hospital, in Holm, on Tuesday following a lengthy illness, Dagens ETC reported. The Swede became a headline item in 1973 when he and former cellmate Jan-Erik Olsson held-up the Kreditbanken Bank in Stockholm in what was the first-ever live crime broadcast in Sweden. Advertisement 3 Clark Olofsson appears at a book signing in the fall of 1991. TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images Olofsson and his mate were so entrancing over the course of the multi-day standoff that the bank employees being held hostage began to express more trust and concern for their captors than the police officers attempting to save them. This affection grew despite the two criminals threatening to kill the hostages on several occasions and holding them against their will for five days. Advertisement Towards the end of the nationally televised crisis, cops directed the hostages to leave the bank before Olofsson and his partner in crime, prompting protests from the hostages. 'Jan and Clark go first — you'll gun them down if we do!' 23-year-old hostage Kristin Ehnmark exclaimed to Swedish cops. A police report even said that a semen stain was found on the carpet of the bank indicating that some sort of sexual interaction occurred during the five-day standoff. 3 Olofsson and his hostages Birgitta Lundblad, Sven Säfström and Elisabeth Oldgren inside the Stockholm bank on Aug. 23, 1973. TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Olofsson was convicted on robbery charges for what was called the 'Normalmstorg robbery' and inspired the term 'Stockholm syndrome' in the process — which is the psycho-social phenomenon of captives becoming emotionally attached, and sympathizing with, their captors. Two years later in 1975, Olofsson would escape from Norrkoping prison and went on to rob a bank in Copenhagen with a pistol in each hand, sail the Mediterranean with the stolen loot, and evade police for years when he finally returned to Denmark. 3 Olofsson was convicted on robbery charges for what was called the 'Normalmstorg robbery' and inspired the term 'Stockholm syndrome' in the process. TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images Then on March 24, 1976, he conducted what at that time was the largest bank robbery in Sweden's history, stealing 930,000 kronor from a bank in Gothenberg — but cops were able to arrest him that same night and he was eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison, according to Swedish sources. Advertisement Olofsson's criminal exploits would continue into the 21st century with the infamous marauder completing his last stint in prison in 2018, following a 2009 conviction on drug smuggling. His exploits during the Normalmstorg robbery, and its influence over pop-psychology, would go on to inspire a film 'Stockholm' (2019) starring Ethan Hawke and Noomi Rapace. Olofsson was also depicted in the 1977 Swedish film 'Clark,' for which the criminal has a writing credit.
New Indian Express
27-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Swedish criminal who helped inspire 'Stockholm syndrome' theory dies: Report
Clark Olofsson, who is one of the two criminals involved in the kidnapping and bank robbery during the year 1973 in Swedish capital, which gave rise to the expression "Stockholm syndrome," has died at the age of 78 following a lengthy illness, the BBC reports quoting his family. During the six-day siege, Olofsson's hostages not only began to sympathise with him and his accomplice, but defended their actions while growing hostile to the police outside. The incident lends its name to a theorised psychological condition whereby kidnap victims develop affections for their captor, BBC said. According to the report, the notorious bank siege was instigated by one Jan-Erik Olsson. After seizing three women and a man hostage, he demanded Olofsson, who he had previously befriended in prison, be brought to the bank from jail. Swedish authorities agreed to his demand, and Olofsson, a repeated offender who spent much of his life in prison, entered the bank, which was surrounded by police. Years later, in an interview with the Aftonbladet newspaper, he claimed he was asked to work as an inside man to keep the captives safe in exchange for a reduced sentence, but accused officials of not honouring the agreement.
Local Sweden
26-06-2025
- Local Sweden
'Stockholm syndrome' bank robber Clark Olofsson dies aged 78
Clark Olofsson, one of Sweden's most well-known criminals, has died at the age of 78, his family confirmed to the ETC newspaper. Advertisement Olofsson was most known for his involvement in the so-called 'Norrmalmstorgs drama' in 1973, the bank robbery that gave rise to the 'Stockholm syndrome' expression. He arrived at the scene after his friend Jan-Erik Olsson took hostages at Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg and demanded that police release Olofsson – already one of Sweden's most notorious bank robbers – from prison and transport him to the bank. The drama continued for six days and grabbed headlines around the world. It was one of the first major news events broadcast live on Swedish television, with police snipers perched on roofs around the square. Prime Minister Olof Palme was brought in to help negotiate, only to be sharply scolded by one of the hostages. "I'm not the least bit afraid of Clark and the other guy, I'm afraid of the police. Do you understand? I trust them completely," she told Palme in a phone call. "You know what I'm afraid of? That the police will do something to us, storm the bank or something." The term 'Stockholm syndrome', used to refer to a hostage who begins to sympathise with the hostage taker, has since been dismissed as a psychological condition, with critics arguing the hostages' behaviour was perfectly rational under the circumstances. Advertisement After days of unsuccessful negotiations, police eventually filled the bank vault with tear gas, upon which Olsson and Olofsson surrendered and all four hostages were freed. The incident is still remembered as Sweden's most famous bank robbery. Netflix released a series about it a few years ago, with Bill Skarsgård playing Olofsson. 'I think Clark Olofsson will be remembered as one of Sweden's most famous bank robbers, criminal through and through, but there will probably be a bit of a glorified shimmer around him,' former crime reporter Tina Frennstedt told the TT newswire. She criticised some of the glorifying coverage of Olofsson. 'He has exposed a lot of people to pretty bad trauma,' she said. Olofsson studied journalism at Stockholm University between 1979 and 1983, while serving time in jail, completing an internship with the Arbetaren newspaper. He was locked up several times during his lifetime for serious crimes, including both before and after the Norrmalmstorg robbery, and spent more than half his life in prison.
NDTV
26-06-2025
- NDTV
'Stockholm Syndrome' Bank Robber Clark Olofsson Dies
Clark Olofsson, a Swedish bank robber who held four people hostage for six days in a 1973 Stockholm bank siege that coined the term "Stockholm Syndrome", has died aged 78, his family said Thursday. Olofsson, one of Sweden's most notorious repeat offenders and the subject of the 2022 Netflix series "Clark", died at a Swedish hospital after a lengthy illness, his family told online media outlet Dagens ETC. Olofsson had a slew of convictions including robbery, attempted murder, drug dealing and assault, and spent more than half of his life in prison. He was best known for his role in the August 23, 1973 seige of Kreditbanken in central Stockholm. Another robber, Janne Olsson, had stormed the bank waving a submachine gun, taking three women and one man hostage as police quickly swarmed the building. Olsson was agitated and demanded that Olofsson, who was in prison for bank robbery at the time, be brought to the bank, and Sweden's government agreed. One of the hostages, Kristin Enmark, later wrote in her book "I Became the Stockholm Syndrome" that when Olofsson arrived, she saw him as her saviour. "He promised that he would make sure nothing happened to me and I decided to believe him," she wrote. "I was 23 years old and feared for my life." She spoke on the phone to authorities several times during the hostage drama, shocking the world when she came out in defence of her captors. "I'm not the least bit afraid of Clark and the other guy, I'm afraid of the police. Do you understand? I trust them completely," she told the prime minister at the time, Olof Palme, in one phone call. "Believe it or not but we've had a really nice time here," she said, adding that they were "telling stories" and "playing checkers". "You know what I'm afraid of? That the police will do something to us, storm the bank or something," she said. The crisis ended on the sixth day when police sprayed tear gas inside the bank, forcing Olsson and Olofsson to surrender, and freeing the hostages. The hostages later refused to testify against their captors. Experts have since debated whether "Stockholm Syndrome" is an actual psychiatric condition, with some arguing it is instead a defence mechanism to cope with a traumatic situation.
Global News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Oilers beat Golden Knights 5-4 in OT, for a 2-0 series lead
Leon Draisaitl took a pass from Connor McDavid and scored off the rush at 15:20 of overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 5-4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knight,s on Thursday night, and a 2-0 lead in the second-round series. 'We knew they were going to come and they were going to push,' Draisaitl said after the win. 'I thought we weathered it okay. Obviously, they had us on our heels a little bit there; for a little bit. But weathered it, got it into overtime, and you know at that point all you need is one hockey play really and fortunately we got that tonight.' After failing to capitalize on a five-minute power play when Vegas defenseman Nicolas Roy was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking 5:37 into overtime, the Oilers didn't waste the opportunity later when the NHL's most dynamic offensive duo combined for the winner. Story continues below advertisement 'We found a way,' McDavid said. 'That's what we get paid to do. Paid to score goals in big moments and we found a way tonight.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's not going to be your best every single night, and we found a way to win on an off night.' 'I feel like our best is still coming, and I hope to see it at home here.' Vasily Podkolzin, Jake Walman, Darnell Nurse and Evander Kane also scored for the Oilers, and Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had two assists. Calvin Pickard, who appeared to be shaken up when Vegas' Tomas Hertl fell on his left leg in the third period, made 28 saves. Victor Olofsson scored two power-play goals and had an assist for the Golden Knights, Alex Pietrangelo had a goal and an assist, and William Karlsson also scored. Jack Eichel had three assists, and Mark Stone two assists to extend their points streaks to five games apiece. Adin Hill stopped 33 shots. Game 3 is Saturday night in Edmonton. Kane's goal 1:52 into the third period made it 4-2 before Olofsson answered less than three minutes later off a cross-ice pass from Eichel. Pietrangelo, who missed Game 1 because of an illness, tied it with 8:02 left with a shot from the right point. Story continues below advertisement The Golden Knights scored the only goal in the first period on Olofsson's power-play shot from the right circle. Eichel set up the play by passing to Stone, who from below the goal found an open Olofsson for his first career playoff goal. Edmonton rolled off three goals in a row in the second period — all from distance. The Golden Knights quickly responded with Karlsson's redirect of Eichel's shot with 1:50 left in the period cut it to to 3-2. The Oilers, who trailed 1-0 after one period, have a record six consecutive comeback victories in a single postseason. Vegas has never been swept in its eight-year history and even rallied from 2-0 down in 2021 to beat Colorado in six games, though that series began on the road. The Golden Knights also have been eliminated in five games just twice, including the 2018 Stanley Cup Final against Washington. The Golden Knights' 42-game playoff winning streak when scoring at least three goals ended. It was the second longest in NHL history to Montreal's 52-game streak in 1945-57, according to Sportradar.
