FAMILY and friends are mourning the loss of a former Territorian who was stabbed to death in the Swedish city of Gothenburg last week.

Kai Foley spent part of his youth growing up in Alice Springs and was living in Sweden when he was killed.

Mr Foley died in the city centre about 4.50am local time on Wednesday last week.

The 30-year-old was understood to have moved to Sweden earlier in 2017, where he was living with his Swedish girlfriend.

It is understood Mr Foley attended school in Alice Springs during his childhood and teenage years.

Old Alice Springs friends took to social media to share their sadness and grief at the loss of Mr Foley.

One mate wrote, “RIP Kai, far out. Soo sad” and another friend said, “mate, you did not deserve this. You will be missed Kai.” And another said, “so sad to hear RIP Kai.”

Mr Foley was found near Odins Square in central Gothenburg but police believe he may have been attacked several hundred metres away.

Local police commissioner Ben Wahlin said investigators didn’t yet understand why Mr Foley was attacked, but added there was “absolutely nothing” in his background to suggest he would be the victim of such a crime.

Mr Foley, who after the NT had lived in Melbourne, was found badly injured.

“He was in a very bad condition, he was basically unconscious,” said another western region police spokesman, Morten Gunneng.

Mr Foley was rushed to hospital suffering several spinal and abdominal injuries and died a short time later.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who had died in Sweden.

The former Territorian is not the only NT resident to have been killed overseas in recent times, with Woolner resident Matt Bate killed in a street fight in San Francisco in June and Kevin Reid shot in September 2016 in Savannah, Georgia.