Originally, the captors only allowed their hostages to leave the vault when tethered by a 30-foot rope.īut gradually trust blossomed and they were allowed to wander around the bank freely - in the knowledge that they’d always return. “Believe it or not, but we’ve had a really nice time here.” She told Palme: “I’m not the least bit afraid of Clark and the other guy. The day following the raid, Olsson called the Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme, to request that he and the hostages were allowed to escape safely together.Īnd, when his request was denied, Kristin spoke to Palme herself - insisting that it’s what the hostages wanted too. Whoever threatened that world was our enemy.” “We were in the vault in order to breathe together, to survive. Quickly, I changed my breathing to be in time with everyone else’s. Speaking to The New Yorker in 1974, Kristin said: “We were like tired moths…In the still room all I could hear was the others breathing. In some ways, he gave me hope or faith that this would end okay.”Įlisabeth also claimed Olsson cared for her in the vault when she woke up after getting too cold, as the robber draped his grey wool jacket around her shoulders.Īs a result, by the second day, the hostages began fearing the police more than their kidnappers, as they were afraid that the authorities would use violent methods and escalate the situation. “He meant very much to me because I believed someone cared for me. I can’t say I felt safe but I chose to believe him. Speaking on podcast, Memory Motel, in 2016, Kristin sad: “He comforted me and held my hand. Meanwhile, inside the bank vault, a strange relationship was emerging between the hostages and their captors. Including, asking the Salvation Army to play religious songs to the criminals, or sending in a swarm of angry bees to sting them into surrendering. The public were frenzied and desperately offered the police suggestions of how to end the stand-off. The unfolding drama captured headlines around the world and was the first criminal event to be covered by live TV in Sweden.Īnd now, the incredible story has been made into a Hollywood film, Stockholm aka The Captor, starring Ethan Hawke in the leading role. And, for the first few days, the police believed that he was a wanted 21-year-old man. He was also an established safe breaker.Īt the time of the Norrmalmstorg robbery, Olsson was on the run from a prison in Kalmar, in the south of Sweden, after escaping his three-year sentence for robbery, while on furlough.Īnd, after making a getaway to Stockholm, he seized his chance to strike again.īut although the police reacted quickly and delivered Olsson’s requests within hours - including a blue Ford Mustang with a full tank of gas - they refused to let him escape with the hostages in tow. He was known for armed robbery and violent acts. Olsson was a repeat offender, who began committing crimes at the age of 16. He also wanted three million Swedish Kronor (£244,000) and a fast getaway car. Forrest Tucker: Legendary stick-up man no jail could hold who escaped from Alcatraz and San Quentin in 60-year crime spree
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