A 38-year-old man, who was locked up for plotting to kill his brother-in-law and 56 other people on a quest to hunt “witches”, has escaped from psychiatric care, The Local reported.

Since this summer the man who was put in psychiatric care in Hässleholm in February, has been allowed to walk freely within hospital grounds for 15 minutes at a time, despite the prosecutor's objection.

“In my opinion he is dangerous, it is too early to grant him leave,” said prosecutor Lisa Åberg.

He escaped last week and is believed to have travelled south to Malmö since. According to mass media he has been looking for his ex-wife, who is living under protected identity.

He told the trial that he had been on a “witch hunt”, insisting that Swedish authorities were on his side. On his computer police discovered a list of 56 other people for whom he had similarly grim plans.