The wave of violence sweeps over Sweden. During the night of Thursday, three people died in acts of violence over the course of twelve hours. The police hold a press conference about the situation in the country.
– It is not one border that has been crossed, there are several, says the national police chief Anders Thornberg.
Participating are national police chief Anders Thornberg, the head of Noa and the police regional heads for Mitt, Stockholm and East.
A man died and another was injured in a shooting south of Stockholm, a 25-year-old woman died in an explosion outside Uppsala and a man in his early teens was shot to death in southern Stockholm.
– The violence of the last few days and weeks is shaking our country, says Anders Thornberg.
– It is not one border that has been crossed, there are several.
Most have connections to the same criminal groups, which are partly controlled from abroad.
– In many cases, we know who they are.
300 people are in custody for violent crimes, more than ever before, according to Thornberg. But there is little evidence that the gross violence will soon stop.
– The situation in Sweden shows how important it is that all authorities join forces, we in the police force will strike hard against crime.
Johan Olsson, the head of Noa, says that the main direction to face the violence is, among other things, to prosecute and prevent more violent crimes – a work that must now be switched up.
– We will allocate large resources to increase our information gathering both against those who order, organize and carry out these crimes, he says.
When asked how the military could help the police, Anders Thornberg says that it is about several things – but not law enforcement “work in the field”.
– Carrying out surveillance missions, logistics, vehicles and other things. Another part is that they have skills in the Armed Forces that we may need, he says.
The text is updated.