Stockholm unveiled a new public memorial to commemorate the victims of the terrorist attack on Drottninggatan, which took place exactly eight years ago. The monument, titled “Fredad plats / Sanctuary”, stands on the staircase at Sergels torg, where the tragic event left a deep mark on the city’s collective memory.
Created by visual artist Ann-Sofi Sidén and architect Mats Fahlander, the memorial consists of a heated bronze blanket draped over a concrete ramp. The sculpture was commissioned by Stockholms stad (City of Stockholm) and was inspired by the spontaneous outpouring of love and solidarity that followed the attack.
On April 7, 2017, Rakhmat Akilov drove a stolen truck into a crowd along Drottninggatan, killing five people and injuring several others. The steps at Sergels torg were immediately transformed into a sea of flowers, candles, and handwritten messages—a scene that deeply moved the city and helped shape the vision for the memorial.
A tactile and poetic space of remembrance
One of the most distinctive features of Sanctuary is its heated surface, which allows visitors to sit, touch, and engage with the sculpture even during Sweden’s cold seasons. Fahlander explains that the piece was designed to be experienced both from a distance and up close:
“You can see the work from far away because it is open. But you can also get closer and closer, and eventually you are down to the level of the letters. So there is a slow possibility to read the sculpture,” he said.
The seams of the blanket contain poetic lines from renowned writers such as Bodil Malmsten, Lars Norén, Dmitri Plax, and Louise Glück. Sidén described poetry as “the straw you might grasp when everything is completely dark or empty.”
Fahlander added that the idea of using stitches as a metaphor was central to the design:
“Stitches are something that hold things together, and the thought that stitches could be made of text was an appealing one.”
Delayed but carefully crafted
The installation of the monument had been delayed for several years due to technical and financial complexities. According to the artists, crafting a bronze sculpture with integrated heating elements and engraved text within the municipal budget proved to be a significant challenge.
Despite these difficulties, the completed work has been met with appreciation for its symbolism, craftsmanship, and emotional depth. It stands not only as a tribute to the lives lost and affected, but also as a reflection of Stockholm’s resilience and compassion.
The Fredad plats / Sanctuary memorial now offers a permanent space where the public can gather, reflect, and remember—a place where warmth, poetry, and presence come together in the heart of the city.
