Swedish police have arrested a teenager following a deadly triple shooting that occurred on Tuesday in the city of Uppsala.
According to reports, the attacker fled on a scooter after opening fire inside a hair salon in the city center, triggering a major police operation to locate him.
On Wednesday, police confirmed that the suspect is under the age of 18.
At a press conference, it was stated that all three victims were between 15 and 20 years old. Regional police chief Erik Åkerlund noted, however, that the identities of the deceased have not yet been officially confirmed.
Authorities are investigating possible gang-related motives behind the killings, as reported by Swedish media. According to them, one of the victims was known to the police and had been linked to an investigation involving a planned attack on a relative of gang leader Ismail Abdo. No formal charges were filed in that case.
Ismail Abdo, nicknamed “Jordgubben” (“Strawberry”), is one of Sweden’s most notorious criminal leaders. A new wave of gang violence began after his mother was killed in her home in Uppsala in 2023, north of Stockholm.
In recent years, Sweden has seen a surge in crime, particularly involving teenage gangs, whose members are suspected of offenses ranging from vandalism to murder.
In response, the government has proposed new legislation that would allow police to wiretap even children under the age of 15 to curb rising youth crime.
During a scheduled press conference on gang violence, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said police would be allowed to conduct surveillance even without specific evidence. He acknowledged this would be a serious intrusion into privacy but stressed it was necessary to stop gangs from recruiting children — sometimes as young as 10.
The government also plans to tighten control over firearms circulation in the country.
The shooting occurred on the eve of Walpurgis Night — a spring festival that draws large crowds onto the streets of Uppsala, a city traditionally popular with students.
The celebration, known in Sweden as Valborg, features student champagne breakfasts, herring lunches, and raft races on the river. A large bonfire celebration is scheduled for Wednesday evening on the outskirts of the city.
Osa Larsson, head of the local police in Uppsala and Knivsta, assured Swedes planning to attend the festivities that they need not change their plans. At the same time, she urged the public to report anything suspicious.
She added that police presence in Uppsala would be significantly increased in the coming days, though admitted that full security could not be guaranteed.
After the shooting, police cordoned off a large area around the hair salon.
“It all happened very quickly. Just bang, bang, bang,” one witness told TV4.
Another man said he was cooking at home when he heard “two loud bangs that sounded like fireworks.” He added that he was “very surprised and scared,” and soon after, the street was filled with police and ambulances telling people to stay away.