The day after the stabbing in Eskilstuna, the municipality went into emergency mode.
Jimmy Jansson (S), chairman of the municipal board in Eskilstuna, wants to see stronger measures from the government to stop the violence.
– We have tried to solve the problem, but we are not responsible for state migration policy.
During an outdoor day on Thursday, a fight broke out at the arena in Eskilstuna and four 15-year-old students were stabbed. Eskilstuna municipality has now gone into staff mode and the city’s schools are canceling all planned outdoor activities and excursions. Psychologists, counselors and staff from social services have been called in to provide support. Jimmy Jansson (S), chairman of the municipal board in Eskilstuna, says that the whole town has been shaken up.
– This affects us all. It’s not something we asked for or deserve. There are a number of people who take freedom and commit violence, he tells Efter fem and continues:
– It lies like a wet blanket over the city. We want to enjoy a different view of Eskilstuna. But this is a development that has developed over many years. This is something that exists throughout the country but we have received a lot in the last year.
The wave of violence in Eskilstuna
This is not the first time violence has hit Eskilstuna. In 2022, 32 shootings occurred in the city, and if you look at the number of shootings per inhabitant, Eskilstuna is the city hit hardest by shootings in the whole country. Jimmy Jansson (S) says that segregation is behind the problem.
– We have tried to face the problem, but we are not responsible for state migration policy. We have tried to prepare according to the situation and we certainly could have done things differently, but it looks like this throughout Sweden.
He wants to see stronger measures from the government to stop the violence.
– When someone commits a crime, it is no longer the municipality’s business, then it is a criminal act. Then the legal system must take over. Then we stand with our hands down. What we can do is try to make sure someone doesn’t become a potential shooter, knife killer, or punch someone in the face.
But the problem requires greater efforts than leisure farms, Jansson points out and calls those who, in addition to violence, “broken”.
– It is a type of parallel society, with clan structures and oppression of honor that these men grow up in, he says and adds:
– They are raised on what happens on TikTok and not by their parents.