Swedish police detain 16-year-old after three killed in Uppsala shooting

[Celerity]

5. I have written on this extensively in the past here on DU. I have lived in Stockholm since 2018, after being born in the

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.

The Swedish gangs recruiting teenage hitmen (short video from Deutsche Welle)

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

Spread of gang violence wrecks Sweden's peaceful image

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

Sweden | Gang bombings and shootings increasing

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/

How Sweden Became a Transnational Crime Hub

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 and gangs: Sweden's gun crime crisis | The Stream

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?

How gang violence took hold of Sweden – in five charts

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

Sky News Investigates: Sweden's deadly gang war

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.

Sweden's homicide rate linked to gang warfare is one of the highest in Europe

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/