‘Running fast’: a reindeer entered the tunnels of a subway line in the suburbs of Stockholm this morning, blocking underground rail traffic.

“At around 8:00 in the morning, we received an alert from the police who told us that a reindeer was roaming” near the metropolitan network, Claes Keissou, a spokesman for SL, the Swedish capital’s public transport authority, told AFP.

Shortly before 11:00 am (13:00 Greek time), the animal entered the subway zone, possibly crossing the fence that protects the tracks.

The mammal then moved through tunnels between four stations, prompting SL to shut down traffic on the entire railway line. Buses were dispatched to serve passengers, Keisu added.

Police, game wardens and staff from the Metropolitan network were sent to the site to try to get the reindeer out of the tunnels, or kill it as a last resort.

“We punched holes in the fence to show him the way out, but he’s not responding,” Keisu said. “But it’s hard, it runs everywhere and fast.”

“We’re trying to get him to a point, if we have to kill him, the hope is that the animal stays safe,” the animal said.

SL hopes traffic can resume later this evening.