Swedish police detain 16-year-old after three killed in Uppsala shooting
Teenager held on suspicion of killings after incident at hair salon in university city north of Stockholm, say prosecutorshttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/30/swedish-police-apprehend-suspect-after-uppsala-killings
A 16-year-old has been detained on suspicion of shooting and killing three people in the city of Uppsala, according to Sweden’s prosecution authority.
Police had earlier confirmed in a press conference that a detained person was suspected of murder and was one of several people being interrogated as part of the investigation, although they did not provide an age.
The shooting took place at a hair salon in Uppsala, a university city 45 miles north of Stockholm, on Tuesday. Police said the incident was believed to be an isolated event and not linked to the annual Valborg celebrations expected in the city on Wednesday evening. Valborg is a Swedish bonfire festival marking the arrival of spring.
Swedish media reported that one of the deceased had connections to organised gang crime, although police would not confirm those reports. Authorities in Sweden have been struggling to deal with gang violence, which remains at the forefront of a national debate, including growing concerns over the young age of children being caught up in the bloodshed. Guns and explosives are regularly used by rival gangs.
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Sweden has several well-known criminal gangs, ranging from homegrown street gangs to international organized crime groups. These groups are involved in various illegal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, weapons smuggling, and violent crime (e.g., shootings and bombings). Key gangs include:
### 1. **Foxtrot Network**
- A major crime syndicate in Sweden, allegedly led by Rawa Majid ("The Kurdish Fox"
.
- Known for orchestrating much of the recent violence in Sweden.
- Involved in drug trafficking, murder plots, and conflicts with rival gangs.
### 2. **Dalen Network**
- Rivals of the Foxtrot network.
- Based in Stockholm, especially in the Dalen district.
- Active in drug trade and organized violence.
### 3. **Shottaz Network**
- Another rival of the Foxtrot network.
- Involved in drug-related turf wars and shootings.
### 4. **Södra Sidan (South Side Gangsters)**
- A long-established gang primarily active in southern Stockholm.
- Originally inspired by American street gangs.
- Engaged in drug sales and gang violence.
### 5. **Original Gangsters (OGs)**
- A Swedish crime gang founded in Gothenburg in the 1990s.
- Known for its connections to other European gangs.
- Involved in drug and weapons trafficking.
### 6. **Bandidos MC and Hells Angels MC**
- International outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) with chapters in Sweden.
- Engaged in organized crime including extortion, weapons, and drugs.
### 7. **Black Cobra and other immigrant-based gangs**
- Some of these originated in Denmark and spread to Sweden.
- Known for street-level crime and turf wars.
### 8. **Crips & Bloods (Swedish branches)**
- Some Swedish youth gangs have adopted the names and symbols of American Crips and Bloods, though they are loosely affiliated.
- Active in Stockholm and Gothenburg.
I had no idea this level of gang activity existed there.
US (Los Angeles) and then growing up in London after my parents (Swedish father, Bajan (Barbados) mum) moved back to London before I was 2 years old.
Here are some articles and videos that give a backgrounding on gang activity in Sweden.
Criminal gangs in Sweden are increasingly recruiting young teens online to undertake deadly hit jobs, partially because they cannot be prosecuted as adults. In the city of Karlskoga, two cases involving an 11- and 13-year-old highlight a growing crisis.
https://www.dw.com/en/the-swedish-gangs-recruiting-teenage-hitmen/video-71702593
Gangland shootings and bombings that have plagued Sweden's biggest cities have spread to quieter suburbs and towns, shattering its reputation as a safe and peaceful nation.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67342368
Gang violence in Sweden, especially shootings and small bombings, appears to be worsening. There were reportedly 32 gang-related explosions countrywide in January, in cities such as Gothenburg, Malmo and Stockholm. Most incidents occur in disadvantaged suburbs of urban areas, posing a generally low risk to businesses and civilians
https://dragonflyintelligence.com/news/sweden-gang-bombings-and-shootings-increasing/
The murder of two British businessmen turns a once-quiet seaside port into a symbol of unbridled gangland criminality
https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/how-sweden-became-a-transnational-crime-hub/
Gun violence in Sweden has surged dramatically over the past three decades, largely fuelled by gang culture in marginalised communities, many of which are home to immigrants. Critics argue that government policies have contributed to the isolation of minority groups, with rising inequality and poverty serving as underlying catalysts for this violence. Will these escalating acts of violence irreparably tear apart Sweden's social fabric?
Scandinavian country has second highest gun crime death rate in Europe, with poverty and inequality among driving factors
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/30/how-gang-violence-took-hold-of-sweden-in-five-charts
Sweden has a problem: gangs with guns and bombs are unleashing terror on the streets. Fifty three people were shot dead as part of an ongoing gang war in 2023. Things got so bad that the government called in the army to help the police. And there's a new deadly trend emerging in this battle. Gang members as young as 14 are increasingly using explosives to target rivals as they fight over drug turfs. How has a peaceful European country ended up the gun murder capital of the EU? Is failed integration to blame? Sky's Siobhan Robbins has been to find out. As part of the research, she speaks to a young man whose been part of a gang since he was nine. He claims hitmen are being paid less so now "everyone kills". She also sees the arsenal of weapons taken off the streets.
The surge in gang violence in Sweden has led to one of the highest homicide rates in Europe, with official data showing that fatal shootings have more than doubled in a year.
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/15/swedens-homicide-rate-linked-to-gang-warfare-is-one-of-the-highest-in-europe
Resistance and decisive action – Sweden’s national strategy against organised crime
Organised crime poses a significant threat to Sweden. The violence, the threats, the recruitment of children, and the criminal economy have both direct and indirect impacts on people’s safety and security, as well as on critical societal functions. This calls for both resistance and decisive action – organised crime must be prevented and combated with the full collective force of society. The strategy describes the problems in detail, provides guidelines for measures, and outlines the most important work planned by the Government moving forward.
https://www.government.se/government-policy/national-strategy-against-organised-crime/
I mean two horrifying incidents in so many years... 
