Ten tons of explosives seized: “Exceptional”

Hundreds were left homeless and a young woman was killed in last year’s 149 bombings. Up until December, over ten tons of explosives were seized, and according to the police, the record year could have turned considerably darker.

– We have never seen anything like this, says Malin Nygren at the National bomb shelter.

Since the police started keeping statistics in 2018, 650 bombings have rocked Sweden. Just as many have been stopped in the trial and preparation stage. 2023 was a new record year.

Half of the explosions, including the most powerful ones, take place with dynamite from the civilian market and the police see the “leakage” as the highest priority issue. But despite years of violence that prompt criminologists to draw parallels to the Mexico of the drug cartels, action has been delayed.

Only in 2023 did the police begin a national survey to find out which companies the dynamite comes from.

– We have also initiated cases where it is legally tested whether the companies should be allowed to keep their permits. It is also new for this year, says Malin Nygren, head of the National bomb protection.

Downpipe

The fact that it hasn’t happened before, she says, is partly due to new legislation, partly due to a lack of coordination. Police, companies and municipalities with supervisory responsibilities have each worked separately – but no one has looked at the whole.

– Everything that happens in terms of permits and handling of explosives is very much like a sinkhole. A municipality is responsible for its permits, but has no control over whether a rogue company is working in three other municipalities.

The Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods was tightened in 2021 with an emphasis on increased requirements for control and fitness testing of people who work with explosives.

– In 2023, it began to take effect. The municipalities are making efforts and we have also started a close collaboration with the industry, which is doing a lot itself to reduce the shortcomings.

On January 1, 2024, the penalties for crimes involving explosive goods were increased.

Record seizure

In parallel with the explosions like never before, the police have seized a record amount of explosives. Until December, the seizures of incendiary and explosives exceeded ten tons. In one of last year’s most powerful bombings, in a townhouse area in Hässelby in northwest Stockholm, 15 kilos of dynamite was used by comparison.

– There is a very large demand and a very large supply, notes the bomb protection manager.

Thanks to the fact that the work has now been stepped up, she still looks to 2024 with confidence. She does not expect a new record year.

Hundreds have been forced to leave their homes after powerful explosions in apartment buildings and residential areas. In September, a young woman with no connection to crime was killed outside Uppsala.

– I can state that we have seen a number of large explosions, and that it has not resulted in more injuries is astonishing. Somewhere god is keeping his hand over the citizens, because there has been a very high risk that people would be seriously injured in several of these acts.

FACT National bomb shelter

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