DPA

STOCKHOLM A SWEDISH man was due to stand trial on Monday charged with three counts of murder and 12 counts of attempted murder over a series of sniper attacks that appeared to target immigrants in southern Sweden.

Peter Mangs, who denies the shootings, was arrested in November 2010 in the city of Malmo where the shootings took place .In the weeks prior to the arrest a special police unit was set up to hunt for the gunman as the attacks caused panic in Malmo, which has a high immigrant population.

Prosecutor Solveig Wolstad said investigators had “not been able to establish a singular motive” for the shootings, “but there was a certain extent of xenophobia” and also “hostility against people who had criminal records.

“Other charges included preparing to commit murder, vandalism and attempting to pervert the cause of justice.” Initially he cooperated during interviews, but for the past year he has not wanted to answer questions,” Wolstad said when she recently presented the charges.

Mangs was also found to have made lists of people - including members of criminal gangs and members of the Jewish community -according to the police investigation.

Two of the murders took place in 2003 and one in October 2009.