The Swedish police reported on Friday that nearly 62,000 individuals are active or have connections with criminal networks in the country, as authorities have been struggling for years to contain violence linked to organized crime.
The number of shooting incidents resulting in fatalities has more than tripled over the past decade in Sweden, a country with a population of 10 million, currently experiencing significantly higher levels of such incidents compared to neighboring countries.
National Police Commissioner Petra Lund stated in a press conference, “We have identified 14,000 individuals actively involved in criminal networks. Those who have connections to these networks, we estimate their number to be up to 48,000.”
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer noted that in 2022, there were 62 shooting incidents in Sweden.
He mentioned during the press conference, “In 2023, despite a slight decrease in fatal shooting incidents, preliminary figures show that Sweden experienced nine times more fatal shooting incidents compared to Norway, Denmark, and Finland combined.”
He also added that the number of attacks involving explosives was the highest ever recorded. September of the previous year witnessed 11 shooting incidents, making it the bloodiest month in Sweden since 2019.
