Man with ax was leading treasure hunt

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OSTERSUND, Sweden, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A man reported to be suspiciously wandering the streets of Ostersund, Sweden, with an ax was participating in a children's treasure hunt, police discovered.

Police said they received a call Saturday about the ax-wielder and responding officers learned that the man, 49, was leading a group of eight preschool children on the hunt, The Local.se reported Monday.

"It took awhile before I understood that it was me they were after, so I kept walking until they came really close and shouted that I had to drop the weapon. Then I was both scared and stunned," the man said. He said one of the officers was acting "aggressively."

Police said they followed procedure in dealing with the man.

"I don't think it's strange at all that we acted the way we did. We have to take things seriously when you think about all that's happening in the world," police spokesman Peter Borg said.

The man was ordered to sheath the ax and allowed to continue the treasure hunt.