Football player murdered in Södertälje shooting

Eddie Moussa, a player with Swedish second division football club Assyriska was one of the two men shot dead in a gambling club in Södertälje near Stockholm on Wednesday night, according to a statement on the club's webpage.

The Superettan club was due to play an away match against Ängelholms FF this evening but the match has been cancelled, according to a statement on the Swedish Football Association homepage.

Police are continuing their search for three men seen leaving the premises by moped shortly after the shooting which, according to a report in the Aftonbladet daily, could have been an criminal underworld hit.

"It occurred in the Ronna shopping precinct, in Café Oasen," said Johan Sjöholm at Södertälje police to news agency TT on Thursday morning.

The premises where the men were shot is a known gambling club.

"With regards to gambling clubs problems emerge from time to time. It can't be ruled out that the shooting concerns gambling debts," said Björn Engström at Stockholm police.

Police received a call over the shooting at around 2.20am on Thursday morning. Police officers from across the county have been called in to assist the search for the three men.

According to witnesses three men came into the premises and began shooting, according to Mari Olofsson at Stockholm county police.

Police believe the perpetrators left the scene by moped, but witness testimony is unclear on this point. The moped was later found in the area, after having been set alight.

"We are going through all the information now, we shall then decide which direction to take the investigation. The victims have to be identified and relatives informed," Engström said.

The condition of the third victim, who is being cared for at Södertälje hospital, is reported by the police to be stable.

Eddie Moussa is a Swedish and Dominican citizen of Lebanese-Assyrian extraction. He played his debut for Assyriska FF, a club which played one season in Sweden's Allsvenskan top-flight after winning promotion in 2004.

The club, which was founded only in 1974, has a large following in Södertälje and is considered by many to be a substitute national team for the Assyrian people.