Five students suspected of crimes at Sigtuna boarding school

Five students are suspected of crimes against fellow pupils at Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket, an elite boarding school, SVT reports. Several pupils have been arrested, and the Swedish Schools Inspectorate is reviewing the school.

The suspects are male high-school students around 18 years old. The alleged offences include aggravated sexual molestation, aggravated unlawful coercion, aggravated assault, unlawful threats and aggravated violation of a person’s home.

Both the prosecutor and a defence lawyer for one of the suspects have pointed to a school tradition and culture in which older pupils punish younger ones. The school has not commented on those claims. It says pupil safety is its highest priority and that it will carefully review what happened.