Earlier this week Swede Joakim Robin Berggren, 32, made headlines when he was a suspect in a terror chase, driving a truck full of gas canisters, up the wrong way of the road. Details emerged today that Berggren was on a alcohol and drug fueled bender that had been going on for more than 24 hours.
Berggren is in custody awaiting psychiatric evaluation.
According to sources, Berggren spent more than £16,000 on a 24-hour bender involving drugs, alcohol and prostitutes.
“Instead of sleeping off his hangover at his hotel, he allegedly led police on a two-mile chase which only ended just after 10.30am on Tuesday when cops fired seven shots at his vehicle,” says The Sun.
The chase was feared to be a terrorist attack like in Nice, using the truck as a weapon.
The Daily Mail has more details:
The dramatic chase – which was initially feared to be a terrorist attack echoing those of Nice and Berlin where a truck was used as a weapon – concluded with Berggren’s admission to a psychiatric centre.
Catalan Interior Minister Jordi Jane confirmed today the Swedish holidaymaker had been partying ‘all night’ before sparking the drama after flying into Barcelona at midday on Monday and checking into his hotel.
He said he didn’t want to speculate on how much money Berggren had spent before his bank statements arrived but admitted he expected them to show ‘important amounts.’
Describing his actions at a press conference this morning as ‘improvised and not planned’, he said the tourist had tried to stop several vehicles and steal a motorbike to head towards the sea before taking the truck laden with gas canisters.
Respected Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia said Berggren had been arrested in his native Sweden for possession of drugs and drink-driving. It is not known if the reported arrests ended with convictions.
It is understood he had flown to Moscow from the Danish capital Copenhagen a day before arriving in Barcelona, and was originally planning to travel to Madrid before changing his mind at the last minute.
The unnamed friend he jetted to Barcelona with is thought to have already left Spain.
Berggren is being held in a psychiatric centre while Spanish police await information from their Swedish colleagues on whether he has any criminal convictions there.
They are also awaiting the results of toxicology tests to determine whether he consumed drugs as well as alcohol before his alleged rampage through Barcelona.
