Facts: The number of explosions since 2018
2023 (until August 15): 109
2022: 90
2021: 79
2020: 107
2019: 133
2018: 90
Source: The police
Norsborg, Nyköping, Kortedala and Olskroken.
Within the space of an hour, it struck in four different places around the country during the night of Thursday. In Gothenburg, where the explosions occurred just ten minutes apart, a so-called special event has begun. Feverish work is underway to investigate the detonations – and to create security.
— Incidents like this naturally create a great deal of anxiety among the residents of the area, so it is important for us to work to create security, says the police spokesperson Fredrik Svedemyr.
The explosions are just the latest examples of a worrying development in Sweden. According to the police, 109 explosions had occurred up to and including August 15 this year. That is significantly more than the 90 that were noted throughout last year.
“It is obvious that this will be a bomb-filled year with an unusual amount of explosions,” says Manne Gerell, associate professor at Malmö University, who has studied explosions, among other things.
133 explosions in 2019
2019 is the worst year since the police started keeping statistics on the number of explosions five years ago. Then there were 133 explosions – but that number looks set to be exceeded this year. Attorney General Gunnar Strommer calls the escalation “very worrying” and the Tidö parties have already announced that the criminal law should be reviewed in an investigation.
The idea is tougher punishments and more prison sentences to better meet today’s serious crime. In order to stop the explosions, according to the Minister of Justice, it is first and foremost necessary to call in those who carry them out.
— It’s about knowing who they are. To be able to intercept them to a greater extent before there is a concrete suspicion of crime in order to be able to prevent crime before an explosion has taken place, says Gunnar Strömmer.
— But also about cutting off the supply of the components they use to construct their bombs.
Number of explosions 2018–2023. Sweden stands out
Compared to neighboring countries such as Finland and Norway, Sweden stands out in a negative sense. According to Manne Gerell, there are several reasons why it explodes so much. One is that there are several violent conflicts between criminal gangs.
In addition, the gangs have the competence, habit and ability to use explosives.
— In some networks, there are few people who are behind much of the competence. If you remove them, you could reduce the number of explosions, says Man Gerell.
Manne Gerell, associate professor at Malmö University who has studied explosions. Archive image.