The police have so far made around 30 arrests in the wave of violence that has hit the Stockholm area since Christmas Day.
What stands out is that several of those arrested are under the age of 15, and it was a frightening picture of the development that was painted at a press conference arranged by the police earlier on Monday.
– We must get to those who instigate and persuade young people to commit these terrible crimes, says Mattias Andersson, regional police chief in Stockholm, and adds that the police have a “very good picture” of the networks.
The police in Stockholm will shortly be reinforced with another hundred police officers from all police regions in the country.
“Never been good at working with very serious criminals”
But the question is whether it will have any effect in preventing people as young as 13-14 years from committing the reckless acts of violence.
– We have always had young people who commit crimes, but not to this extent, says Michael Tärnfalk, researcher in social work at Uppsala University.
What drives young people to apply to or be recruited by gangs varies. But the lack of effective efforts from society when it comes to serious crime is obvious and long-lasting, says Michael Tärnfalk.
– We have never really been very good at working with very serious criminals. We have not built a society that is adapted to this development, he says.
Watch the full interview with the researcher in the player above.