This theft gave rise to a large number of parodies and artistic interpretations in police series and films.
In August 1973 Stockholm KreditbankenSweden, would suffer one of the robberies that would leave a mark on criminal history. However, it was not the crime itself that caused its relevance, but rather the relationship that would be formed as a result of it.
This assault is not notable for its escape, nor for the loot, nor for police confrontations with hundreds of wounded. This bank robbery, of which we know little of the details, is what gave rise to the so-called Stockholm syndromeconcept used in psychology studies and analysis.
What was the robbery of the Kreditbanken bank in Stockholm like?
On August 23, 1973, Jan-Erik Olssona Swedish criminal known for his ability to open safe deposit boxes, broke into a Kreditbanken branch on Norrmalmstorg Square in the Stockholm center. Olsson took four hostages and demanded the presence of his criminal partner, Clark Olofsson, who was taken to the bank by police. During the incident, Olsson injured a police officer and He threatened to shoot one of the hostages.
The siege lasted six days, during which the hostages developed a strange sympathy relationship with his captors. Olsson and Olofsson displayed a relatively friendly demeanor, which surprised the police and the media. Finally, On August 28, the police managed to rescue the hostages and arrest the two criminals without anyone being seriously injured
The reaction of one of the hostages in the Kreditbanken robbery
After the rescue, the hostages of the Kreditbanken bank robbery in Stockholm experienced a mix of emotions. Some, like Kristin Ehnmark and Sven Safstrom, developed positive feelings toward their captors, which became known as “Stockholm Syndrome.” Kristin, who claimed to be in love by Olsson, It took more than ten years to understand why he had acted that way during the kidnapping, and was finally relieved to realize that he had been in a “freeze” state due to fear.
The hostages also received media and psychological attention after the incident. Although some experienced post-traumatic stress and emotional difficulties, most managed to reintegrate into their normal lives over time. This event left a lasting mark on psychology, leading to further study of the behavior of victims kidnapping and the relationship between captors and hostages.
What happened to the criminals
After the Kreditbanken bank robbery, Jan-Erik Olsson and Clark Olofsson faced significant legal consequences. Olsson was sentenced to ten years in prison and was released in the early 1980s. Clark Olofsson, who was brought to the bank at Olsson’s request, was also arrested and spent time in prison. Olofsson already had a criminal history before the incident and continued to face legal problems after the robbery. Both criminals survived the siege without suffering serious damage.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
