A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of homicide in Sweden, the authorities mentioned 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 They had been between 15 and 20 years outdated, based on the police, however haven’t been publicly recognized.
The motive was unclear, however the police, who mentioned they responded to experiences of “loud bangs” shortly after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, mentioned 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 intervening time, however it’s one of many concepts that we’re working significantly 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 not too long ago run away from a gaggle residence for youngsters, Magnus Berggren, Uppsala’s deputy chief prosecutor, mentioned 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 repute for a excessive way of life, Sweden has been stricken by one of many larger rates of gun violence within the European Union, and violent crime has been on the rise lately. The nation experienced its worst mass taking pictures in February, when a person open fired on an grownup schooling middle, killing 10 people.
Elements just like the suspect’s age point out that the taking pictures could also be related to gangs, mentioned 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.
“In the course of the previous decade, now we have seen an escalation of lethal shootings,” Mr. Salihu mentioned. “Extra not too long ago, the change is that there are very many younger shooters who do it for cost and standing,” he added.
The taking pictures occurred forward of the Walpurgis celebrations, the place Swedes have a good time the start of spring with public bonfires. The police mentioned there was no present hazard to the general public.
