The acts of violence linked to the criminal gangs continue to shake Sweden.
Another night has been marred by several serious acts of violence. In twelve hours, three people have died in two shootings and an explosion in Stockholm and Uppsala. Another person is injured.
September thus sets a dismal record in Sweden. Eleven people have been killed in shootings during September. Which means that this is the deadliest month for gun violence in Sweden in nearly four years.
The Minister of Justice: “The worst thing you can imagine”
Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer visits Nyhetsmorgon on Friday morning after the dark night of violence, and comments on the escalated act of violence.
– It is a deeply tragic development. I understand that people feel both anger, fear and sadness that we are where we are, says Strömmer in Nyhetsmorgon.
– The last 24 hours is beyond the worst that can be imagined in an open, free and decent society.
When asked if it is possible to introduce a state of emergency, Strömmer replies:
– We do not have legislation to introduce this, and continues:
– What it’s basically about is that we have to mobilize the entire power of the system around the police.
Three acts of violence in three hours
At 18:43 last Wednesday, the police received an alarm about a shooting in Fruängen in southern Stockholm. A young man had been shot at Mälarhöjden’s sports field, where several children and young people were training. The man was treated at the scene, but his life could not be saved.
Shortly before midnight, the police were called to another shooting in Jordbro, south of Stockholm. Two people with gunshot wounds were found at the scene. One was so seriously injured that he later died. The other man was taken to hospital and has non-life threatening injuries.
A few hours later, at 03:45 on Thursday morning, the police received an alarm about an explosion in a residential area in Fullerö by Storvreta outside Uppsala. A 25-year-old woman died in connection with the incident. Two houses were completely destroyed in the explosion, which was so powerful that three adjacent houses were also damaged.
The Prime Minister comments
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) commented on the shooting at Mälarhöjden’s sports ground on Wednesday evening:
“Innocent people with absolutely no connection to the serious crime – many of whom were children at evening training – have just been forced to participate in yet another reckless shooting in which yet another man has been shot dead. Crying children in soccer gear and very worried parents. My thoughts are with all these children, mothers and fathers.”