A British father was among the four people killed in the Stockholm truck attack, police said on Sunday, as it emerged that the prime suspect had been rejected for asylum in Sweden last year.

Chris Bevington, 41, was a director of global partnerships at the music streaming service Spotify, which has an office in central Stockholm.

“We are all devastated by the untimely and tragic death of our talented, compassionate and caring son Chris,” John Bevington said in a statement on Sunday.

“[He was ] a wonderful husband, son, father, brother and close friend to many. The family requests absolute privacy at this incredibly difficult time to mourn his passing in peace.”

It came as Swedish police disclosed that the suspect, who has been named by Swedish media as 39-year-old Rakhmat Akilov, was a failed asylum seeker.