Rakhmat Akilov, the man charged with a deadly truck attack in Stockholm last year that claimed five lives, said Tuesday that his motive was to force Sweden to stop supporting the fight against Islamic State.

Akilov said he "wanted Sweden to stop sending soldiers to war zones where the Islamic State is being attacked."
However the attack was "not successful, since I survived," he told the Stockholm district court.
Akilov also said he believed he would be shot by police and had wanted to die as a martyr.
During questioning, Akilov said he did not see the people he drove over but "heard the sounds of people hitting the truck" when he drove into the pedestrian street in a Stockholm shopping district before crashing into a department store.
Earlier, he told deputy chief prosecutor Hans Ihrman that the aim of driving into the area was "to murder Swedish nationals."
The 40-year-old Uzbek national, who spoke Russian, answered questions in a low, even voice.
Akilov has admitted to the attack in April last year, which injured 15 people.
After crashing into the department store Akilov said he was in some shock, and botched an attempt to set off a homemade explosive device in the truck cabin. His trousers caught fire, and he fled the scene.
He was arrested a few hours later.
Akilov also told the court that terrorist attacks in Spain and the kidnapping of Japanese reporters had contributed to a change of stance by the Spanish and Japanese governments in the fight against Islamic State extremist organization.


A courtroom sketch make today shows Rakhmat Akilov


Akilov said he was "not inspired" by any specific attack, "as there were very many," but was aware of vehicle attacks in Berlin, London and Nice, France.
He also saw statements by other attackers and calls for attacks made on internet channels used by Islamic State.
Akilov is the sole suspect in the incident.
At the end of the day's proceedings, Akilov shook hands with his attorneys Johan Eriksson and Robin Soder before he was handcuffed and led out of the high-security chamber.
Eriksson told reporters after the proceedings that his client had been "focused" and wanted to answer the prosecutor's questions.
Akilov's answers and how he acted in court "were in line with what he said during the police interviews," prosecutor Ihrman said.
Prosecutors last week said Akilov pledged allegiance to the leader of Islamic State shortly before he carried out the attack.
Akilov confirmed the prosecution's claims that he scouted several locations in central Stockholm prior to the April 7 attack.
In addition to those killed and injured, Akilov is also charged with subjecting 150 people to the risk of death or serious injury.
Many signed on to the case as injured parties. In brief statements, several of their attorneys told the court they backed the prosecution's case and were seeking damages from Akilov.
The day was "very tough for our clients," they told reporters at the end of the day's proceedings.
"Strong feelings, tears but a will to endure this day to be able to get on with life," attorney Goran Hjalmarsson said of how his clients had reacted.
The Stockholm attack was one of several in Europe since 2016 in which a vehicle was used to target a crowd of civilians. Other deadly attacks have taken place in Barcelona, London, Berlin and Nice.
The trial is scheduled to run to May.
Ihrman has said he will seek a life sentence for Akilov.
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