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full screen Petra Stenkula, head of command and head of police area Malmö, sees an escalation of acts of violence in Malmö. Archive image. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
The gross violence in Malmö has escalated. In recent times, the police have seized a handful of hand grenades and about 15 weapons.
– Now we see an escalation of the gross violence, says Petra Stenkula, police chief in Malmö.
The Malmö police have within the space of two weeks arrested eleven young people who are now in custody, suspected of having committed or were about to commit serious acts of violence.
– The perpetrators are essentially fired-up young people who lack a sense of consequence, says Stenkula.
During the night of Friday, four young people were arrested after a suspected explosion in the Rosengård district. Earlier this week, two 17-year-olds were arrested with firearms, and both are suspected of murder preparations.
– There is a large flow of weapons and hand grenades. Now we see an escalation of the gross violence, and to some extent the events are connected. They are also linked to national conflicts, and therefore we also work nationally, says Stenkula.
Targeted at criminals
The acts of violence are mainly directed at people with a criminal background. The conflicts are about drugs, money laundering and organized crime.
– Even if Malmö’s most criminals are not on site here, the crime is directed at them. It can be about people in their vicinity or companies with which they are connected.
The young people who commit the acts of violence mainly come from other parts of the country.
– They come from western Sweden and up the country and have been assigned to carry out the deed, including through social platforms.
Hand grenades across the border
The Malmö police also see a connection to Denmark.
– We have arrested adults traveling from Denmark who have transported weapons and hand grenades. There is a constant flow of drugs and money across the border. Denmark is included in our situation picture. That is why we also have close cooperation with the Danish police.
According to Stenkula, the police work intensively to prevent more violent crimes from being committed. During the past six months, approximately 50 acts of violence have been prevented in Malmö.
– We work with both secret and open methods. We guard various locations, set up cameras and pinpoint criminals. In the last 14 days we have spoken to about sixty criminals to intervene against these individuals.