Swedish king in tart attack

King Carl Gustaf was 'surprised' by the attack

Questions are being raised in Sweden about security arrangements for the royal family after King Carl XVI Gustaf was hit in the face with a strawberry tart thrown by a 16-year-old Swedish boy.

The attack happened on Wednesday evening as the monarch was visiting a bird sanctuary near the city of Varberg, about 500 kilometres (300 miles) south-west of the capital, Stockholm.

We were on our way out from a wildlife preserve when the man threw the cake

Catherine Broms, royal spokeswoman

The pastry struck the 55-year-old king full in the face, although he was not hurt.

Police arrested the teenager on suspicion of treason, according to Sweden's Radio Ekot.

Squeezed past bodyguards

A spokeswoman for the royal family, Catherine Broms, told the station it was the first time the king had suffered such an attack.

"We were on our way out from a wildlife preserve when the man threw the cake," Swedish news agency TT quoted her as saying.

The king "was surprised, but he wasn't hurt," she added.

Swedish media reported the boy, who was one of 500 onlookers, rushed towards the king and squeezed past his bodyguards before launching his tart.

Queen Silvia, who was walking next to the monarch, helped wrestle the youth to the ground, Swedish media reported.

Police say they do not have a motive for the attack.

If convicted, the suspect could face up to six years in prison.