 the norrmalmstorg robbery was a bank robbery and hostage crisis best known as the origin of the term stockholm syndrome. it occurred at the norrmalmstorg square in stockholm, sweden, in 1973. it was the first criminal event in sweden covered by live television. == events == on 23 august 1973 jan-erik "janne" olsson, on leave from prison, went into kreditbanken at norrmalmstorg, central stockholm and attempted to rob the bank.  police were called in immediately, two of them went inside, and olsson opened fire, injuring the hand of one policeman. the other was ordered to sit in a chair and "sing something"; he started singing "lonesome cowboy". olsson then took four people as hostages. he demanded his friend clark olofsson be brought there, along with 3&nbsp;million swedish kronor, two guns, bulletproof vests, helmets, and a fast car. olofsson was a repeat offender who had committed several armed robberies and acts of violence, the first committed at the age of 16.40 Ã¥r sedan norrmalmstorgs dramat the government gave permission for olofsson to be brought as a communication link with the police negotiators. one of the hostages, kristin emmark, said she felt safe with olsson and olofsson but feared the police might escalate the situation by using violent methods. olsson and olofsson barricaded the inner main vault in which they kept the hostages. negotiators agreed that they could have a car to escape, but would not allow them to take hostages with them if they tried to leave. olsson called up the prime minister, olof palme, and said he would kill the hostages, backing up his threat by grabbing one in a stranglehold; she was heard screaming as he hung up. the next day, palme received another call. this time, it was hostage kristin emmark, who said she was very displeased with his attitude, asking him to let the robbers and the hostages leave. olofsson walked around in the vault singing roberta flack's "killing me softly"
1973_crimes 1973_in_Sweden 20th_century_in_Stockholm Bank_robberies Crime_in_Sweden History_of_Stockholm History_of_Sweden Hostage_taking