Two men dressed as Santa Claus have attacked a guard at Stockholm's royal castle and stolen his assault rifle.

The duo entered his security zone by the castle early today and beat him up before fleeing with his loaded AK5 rifle.

A colleague came to the guard's aid and he was not seriously injured.

Police spokesman Anders Krook says the robbers were dressed in Santa hats and masks. They made no attempt to enter the castle, which is not the royal family's residence.

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