Early on Saturday morning, a fire broke out on the fifth floor of an apartment building in Alby, west of Stockholm.
Two people died, a young woman and a woman in her 50s.
Three more people were injured.
Residents in the area describe the elderly woman as a committed and driven person who took responsibility for the residential area in several ways.
The younger woman's acquaintance gives the image of happy and good friend.
- She was the first to make me feel welcome at school.
She was open and had a strong character, says friend Elizabeth.
Information about attacks
A preliminary investigation into murder or arson has been launched by the police, who say they are working on the basis of a number of possible scenarios.
But according to residents in the area that SVT Nyheter spoke to, the fire was arson.
Someone is said to have poured flammable liquid by the front door and set it on fire, which Aftonbladet and Expressen also reported with reference to sources.
In connection with this, a loud, dull bang is said to have been heard in the area, something the police have so far not wanted to confirm.