A teenager has been arrested after a deadly shooting in the Swedish city of Uppsala that left three young people dead. The attack, which happened inside a hair salon on Tuesday, has shocked the country and raised new fears over rising gang violence.
Police said the victims were between the ages of 15 and 20. The suspect, who is under 18, reportedly fled the scene on a scooter, sparking a large manhunt. He was taken into custody on Wednesday.
Authorities are investigating whether the shooting is connected to gang crime. According to Swedish media, one of the victims had links to a police investigation involving a planned attack on a relative of a well-known gang leader, Ismail Abdo, also known as “The Strawberry.”
Abdo’s mother was murdered in 2023 in Uppsala, sparking a violent wave in ongoing gang wars in Sweden. Police believe the latest attack could be another act of revenge in the escalating conflict.
Sweden has been battling a rise in teenage gang violence, with children as young as 10 being recruited for crimes ranging from vandalism to murder. In response, the Swedish government is proposing new laws, including allowing police to wiretap minors under 15 without needing hard evidence.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer admitted the move could affect children’s privacy but said it was necessary to stop gangs from using young people as tools for crime. The government is also pushing for stricter gun laws.
The shooting took place just before the city’s popular Valborg spring festival, where thousands of students gather to celebrate. Uppsala police said festival events would go on as planned, but warned there would be a heavy police presence and urged the public to stay alert.
A large area around the salon was sealed off after the attack. Witnesses described hearing rapid gunfire and seeing a large number of police and ambulances rushing to the scene.
“There are no guarantees more violence won’t happen,” said local police chief Åsa Larsson. “But we are prepared and will be watching closely.”
