At the end of July 2023, 14-year-old Mohamed disappeared from his HVB home in Nyköping. At the same time, even -year -old Layth from the family home he was placed on. Within a week, they were found murdered in different places.
The motive is believed to be accused of taking two guns from the criminal network Foxtrot. Both Mohamed and Layth must have been involved by Foxtrot in the preparation for a murder directed at the Dalen Network.
A total of 18 people have been charged with involvement in the murders. The evidence has also been submitted against three persons under 18 and thus cannot be prosecuted.
The brutal deaths have received a lot of attention. But according to Marcus Marsten, head of the operational unit in Stockholm, the incident will probably not have a major deterrent effect on other children and young people. The biggest challenge in that age group is the lack of consistency thinking, he notes.
– The problem is that children often have trouble connecting the consequence for others with what can happen to themselves. They think that this happens if you do something wrong or stupid and they don’t intend to.
Photo: Police
“So it obviously doesn’t work”
The case is, by all accounts, well known to most people in the gang environment, including the young people.
– It should be so daunting that no one would ever think it is fun to look at something that has to do with this environment, but it doesn’t work obviously.
At about the same time as Mohamed was found dead in Nynäshamn, the police were contacted by a then 15-year-old boy. He and his friends had been exposed to serious death threats.
Among other things, they had received pictures sent to Mohamed and Layth where they looked dead.
– It is a standard procedure that you exert pressure on those that can testify, says Marcus Marsten.
Despite this type of deed, which shows the risks of being involved in the gang environment, young people continue to be recruited to the gang.
– There are many performers, and this is because the recruitment is high. There are many who work in the gang criminal environment by recruiting children and young people to be a provider in serious violent crimes.
Social media a recruitment area
This is not least digital where the algorithms on social media basically create what Marcus Marsten calls a “self -sufficient system”.
– The more interest you show, the more such communication you get. Then you are invited in more encrypted contexts. It goes on when we talk now, and tonight and in the middle of the day, he says.
The police are actively working to find risk persons, both digitally and physically. At the same time, you visit schools, associations and sports clubs to train the risks.
– Things that feel quite innocent can make you actually get stuck and end up in a debt relationship with criminals, who exploit it. Then it gets worse and worse. It is a very important picture to convey to children and young people, says Marcus Marsten.