16-Yr-Old Suspect Arrested As Sweden Investigates Shooting That Left 3 Dead

The shooting occurred at a hair salon near Vaksala Square in Uppsala, and led to the death of three people aged between 15 and 20. A masked suspect was seen fleeing the site on an electric scooter.

A 16-year-old suspect has been arrested in the Sweden shooting case.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Police in Sweden have arrested a 16-year-old suspect for a shooting incident in Uppsala that left three people dead on Tuesday (local time).

The shooting occurred at a hair salon near Vaksala Square in Uppsala, and led to the death of three people aged between 15 and 20. A masked suspect was seen fleeing the site on an electric scooter, prompting a manhunt. Police are investigating if the shooting is linked to gang violence. 

One of those murdered at the hair salon "is reportedly known to the police", BBC reported, quoting local media. "The victim was involved in a police investigation over a planned attack against a relative of gang leader Ismail Abdo, according to the reports. The person was never charged," the report added.

At a press conference on the arrest, police commander Erik Akerlund said, "One person has been arrested suspected of murder." 

Police denied that the incident was a terror attack or a hate crime. It is believed to be “an isolated event” not linked to the Walpurgis night celebrations (a local spring festival) expected to take place in Uppsala on Wednesday. 

A Reuters report quoted Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer as saying that the justice ministry was in close contact with the police and that it was closely monitoring developments in the case”. 

Rising Gang Violence In Sweden

Media reports on the shooting have weighed in on rising cases of gang violence in Sweden. A CNN report noted that while the "motive behind Tuesday’s incident is as yet unclear... earlier this year, the European Parliament said Sweden is 'currently battling a wave of gang violence".

"In 2023, Sweden had the highest rate of deadly gun violence per capita in the European Union, according to Reuters. In 2024, at least 40 people were shot dead in the country of only 10 million people — down from a peak of 63 people shot dead in 2022," the report added.

Tuesday’s shooting, the report noted, "comes just months after a gunman opened fire at an adult education centre in the Swedish city of Örebro, in what the country’s prime minister called the 'worst mass shooting in Swedish history". Ten people were killed in that attack.