A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of homicide in Sweden, the authorities stated on Wednesday, after three folks had been fatally shot the day earlier than, within the newest blow to a rustic grappling with excessive ranges of gun violence in comparison with its European friends.
The three victims had been present in a hair salon within the metropolis of Uppsala, about 43 miles from Stockholm, the capital. They had been between 15 and 20 years outdated, in line with the police, however haven’t been publicly recognized.
The motive was unclear, however the police, which stated they responded to stories of “loud bangs” shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, stated they had been investigating if the taking pictures had been gang-related.
“We will’t say that it has a transparent connection to any gang battle in the mean time, however it’s one of many concepts that we’re working notably intensively on,” Erik Akerlund, head of the Uppsala police and of the particular incident command, said at a information convention on Wednesday morning.
The teenage suspect, who was not recognized, had lately run away from a bunch residence for kids, Magnus Berggren, Uppsala’s deputy chief prosecutor, stated throughout a information convention in a while Wednesday.
Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, condemned the taking pictures as “a horrible act” and lamented that “brutal and ruthless violence is as soon as once more shaking our nation.”
Regardless of its fame for a excessive lifestyle, Sweden has been tormented by one of many greater rates of gun violence within the European Union, and violent crime has been on the rise in recent times. The nation experienced its worst mass taking pictures in February, when a person open fired on an grownup training heart, killing 10 people.
Elements just like the suspect’s age point out that the taking pictures could also be linked to gangs, stated Diamant Salihu, an investigative journalist for the Swedish public service broadcaster, SVT, and the author of two books about gang violence and criminal networks in Sweden.
“Through the previous decade, we have now seen an escalation of lethal shootings,” Mr. Salihu stated. “Extra lately, the change is that there are very many younger shooters who do it for fee and standing,” he added.
The taking pictures occurred forward of the Walpurgis celebrations, the place Swedes have fun the start of spring with public bonfires. The police stated there was no present hazard to the general public.
