Swedish robbery suspect arrested

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- A 21-year old Swedish man has been arrested in London in connection with the theft of three paintings from Sweden's National Museum in December.

The unidentified man -- a key suspect in the robbery -- was arrested in London's Paddington area on Monday, Swedish prosecutor Ylva Johansson told CNN Sweden on Wednesday.

The Swedish authorities have filed a formal request for extradition with the British authorities.

A total of seven men, aged between 19 and 43, have been arrested in connection with the theft of the paintings by Rembrandt and Renoir.

The robbery took place on December 22, just a few minutes before the National Museum located on an island in central Stockholm was to close.

At least three man are believed to have participated in the heist. One of the robbers was armed with a machine gun.

So far, there has been no trace of the paintings.

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Sweden's National Museum

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