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Authorities in Sweden have taken a teenage suspect into custody following a tragic shooting incident that claimed the lives of three young individuals aged between 15 and 20 at a hair salon. This event, which has intensified concerns about escalating gang violence in the region, occurred just a day before the Valborg spring festival in Uppsala, a university town that typically attracts over 100,000 attendees for celebratory bonfires and gatherings.
Police commander Erik Akerlund revealed to the media that a 16-year-old has been arrested on suspicions of murder. However, he clarified that the identities of the victims were not yet fully verified, as reported by the BBC.
Local reports indicate that at least one of the deceased had known affiliations with a criminal organization, a claim that police have yet to confirm. Uppsala police spokesman Stefan Larsson stated, “That is something we are obviously looking into, but we don’t want to commit ourselves to only that possibility.”
Uppsala is notably associated with the activities of two of Sweden’s most infamous gang leaders, Ismael Abdo and Rawa Majid, both believed to be directing operations from abroad. The violent chapter of the ongoing gang conflict in Sweden intensified following the murder of Abdo’s mother in 2023 at their home in Uppsala, as reported by the BBC.
For years, Sweden has grappled with a rise in shootings and bombings linked to rival gangs. Following the recent incident, Akerlund announced that several individuals deemed important to the investigation had been questioned, and substantial evidence, including camera footage from the scene, has been collected.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer described the killings as “extremely serious,” while Uppsala’s mayor Erik Pelling expressed his shock and anger. “It’s frustrating that we have not been able to tackle this problem more effectively,” Pelling lamented.
Heightened Gang Violence in Sweden
The issue of gang-related violence in Sweden has been growing increasingly concerning. A recent bombing incident left a mother and her young child severely injured, with reports indicating that a neighboring suspect had ties to criminal gangs, pointing to a troubling trend of collateral damage in such clashes.
This month alone, two lives were lost in what is suspected to be a gang feud in Gothenburg. Last year, the country was also shaken by the murder of a prominent rapper amidst gang conflicts. Alarmingly, young adolescents are frequently employed as contract killers due to the age of criminal responsibility being set at 15 in Sweden.
The government has proposed new measures aimed at combating this violence, including legislation to permit the wiretapping of minors under 15. According to official statistics, Sweden recorded 92 homicides in 2024—a decline of 29 from 2023—indicating the lowest homicide rate since 2014. Additionally, the total number of reported shootings decreased by 20% within the same timeframe, as noted by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s centre-right administration, which has the support of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, has committed to toughening strategies against crime since taking office in 2022.
In a particularly devastating episode, a mass shooting in February resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals at the Campus Risbergska in Örebro. Following this incident, discussions around tightening gun regulations have gained momentum, specifically the restriction of semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15.
Currently, Sweden imposes strict licensing requirements for firearm ownership, requiring potential gun owners to prove their need for a weapon, such as for hunting or shooting sports. Prospective applicants must complete training courses and submit hunting or target-shooting certifications, emphasizing responsible gun ownership.
As of early 2024, there were approximately 660,000 registered gun owners within Sweden, collectively possessing around 2 million firearms and parts requiring permits. Of these, 1.6 million firearms are registered for hunting, and another 176,000 are designated for target shooting.
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