• Sweden edition
Society

Daytime shootings on the rise in Sweden: report

Published: 10 Sep 12 07:16 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/43118/20120910/

Criminals in Sweden are becoming more prone to firing gunshots in broad daylight, according to a new study, increasingly putting innocent passersby in harm's way.

Gunfire in Sweden is no longer a phenomenon restricted to out of the way alleys in the cover of darkness.

To an ever greater extent, Swedish criminals are opening fire in the middle of the day and in places where there is an increased risk of innocent bystanders getting caught in the crossfire.

On Sunday evening, a young woman was nearly hit by a bullet unleashed during a shooting at a grocery store in Arlöv outside of Malmö that left a 16-year-old boy injured.

More than ten people were present at the time of the shooting, and witnesses reported several shots being fired.

In the last month, more than ten outdoor shootings targeting people have taken place in Sweden in the last month, with shots being fired in residential areas or in busy pedestrian areas.

Often, there have been many bystanders in the area, creating situations in which those beside the intended target are put at risk of being hit by stray bullet.

"It's pure luck that no innocent people have been hurt. It's going to happen sooner or later," Lars Öjelind, a detective with the intelligence section of Sweden's National Bureau of Investigation (Rikskriminalpolisen) told the TT news agency.

A study by the National Crime Prevention Council (Brottsförebyggande rådet – Brå), which is based on 60 interviews with police officers in Malmö, Gothenburg, and Stockholm, supports the theory that there has been a change in criminal behaviour in Sweden.

"The impression police have is that shooting are far more reckless than previously," Danial Vesterhav, a researcher with the crime prevention council, told TT.

Most often, shootings involve criminals opening fire against other criminals.

"It often involves rather mundane things; someone feeling like they've been insulted by someone else. In order to maintain their reputation, their prestige and not lose face in front of their friends, they need to carry out a reprisal," said Vesterhav.

TT/The Local/dl
Follow The Local on Twitter

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

07:49 September 10, 2012 by byke
What a loverly place.

It puts the spotlight on the legal system, police system and how swedes treat each other.
08:34 September 10, 2012 by RobinHood
"A study by the National Crime Prevention Council …….. supports the theory that there has been a change in criminal behavior in Sweden."

Well spotted chaps! Over the past 20 years, Swedish society has changed considerably. Not only concerning daylight gangland shootings. Sadly, Sweden's police and legal system have not adapted at all, or have not adapted far and fast enough. Sweden currently has a legal system written by sandal wearing liberals and built for a sedate agrarian society of people who mostly behaved in a reasonable way - with the occasional rogue. That society no longer exists, certainly in Sweden's major cities, where habitual criminals now shoot, rob, rape and beat anyone weaker than themselves, confident that the risk of first capture, secondly conviction, and thirdly lengthy imprisonment, is negligible. As a consequence, Sweden's police have become lazy and cynical.

The entire Swedish criminal law system is unfit for purpose, over the past year it has been ridiculed on an international stage in places as far away as Ecuador. There needs to be a wholesale review of criminal justice, and the law changed to suit the place that Sweden has become; not the place it once was. Those who want to behave like Balkan gangsters, have gun fights in hospitals, murder their sisters for having the wrong boyfriend, beat and/or murder their wives because they do not behave in the "traditional" way, rape and murder women because their skirts are too short, beat old men almost to death in shopping centers, or punch old ladies to death in car parks, must be made to fear the wrath of the law - not see it as a slight inconvenience.
08:45 September 10, 2012 by eppie
@robinhood and byke

Although I partly agree with the fact that Swedish police should modernize a bit your comments are far over the top.

There is absolutely no evidence that there is more crime in Sweden than in comparable societies. In a country like the US where you can get a life sentence for smoking a joint (so in that sense comparable to Sweden :) ) crime is definetely not lower or less violent.

Whereever you have increasing segregation between rich and poor, crime numbers will go up.
09:23 September 10, 2012 by bourgeoisieboheme
Well what do they expect. Bringing hundreds of thousands of people in from war torn countries there is bound to be increased violence and day time shootings. Remember, people bring their culture with them. Same as if Sverige brought in hundreds of thousands of monks from Tibet, I'm sure we would see a massive increase in day time meditation and praying. Cause and effect gents.
09:47 September 10, 2012 by RobinHood
@Epple

You have missed the point. The topic of debate is not if Sweden has more or less crime than any other country, it is that Sweden has more and worse crime than it did before.

That fact is undeniable, the big question is why? Avoiding it will not help anyone.
10:03 September 10, 2012 by johan rebel
Seems like the cirminals are starting to do something right. Far easier to find and hit your target in daylight. Given that most of them are really lousy shots, they need all the help they can get.
11:23 September 10, 2012 by Grokh
yep swedish police needs to get tougher and the justice system needs to get some balls,
11:26 September 10, 2012 by Abe L
The biggest problem is that the Swedish police is completely incompetent when it comes to arresting people that commit REAL crimes. Go back through any assault, theft, jewellery store robbery or even bank robberies with helicopters news postings on here, the criminals never get caught. If this happens to often, it gives your country a name as it seems you can get away with these things and they will start recurring more often. The same applies to crimes such as burglaries and drug dealing, if you don't find, arrest and prosecute the people resorting to those crimes, they will never stop.

At the same time we're seriously cracking down on tax paying citizens speeding a few km/h on empty highways and put people in jail for running websites with some links. I nearly wrote writing parking tickets, but that was outsourced to rent-a-cops. It would seem like it's time to prioritise catching actual criminals again.

At this point the only thing society gets back from the Swedish police, is a place to get a new ID.
13:02 September 10, 2012 by entry
When will SWEDEN make carrying a gun in the street illegal? Oh... never mind they did that already. I guess Sweden will have to focus on the actual problem now.
13:46 September 10, 2012 by themoron
themoron says:

"yep swedish police needs to get tougher and the justice system needs to get some balls,"

Wishful thinking.
14:03 September 10, 2012 by bluerain303
I wonder why
23:12 September 10, 2012 by Uncle
eppie

"Whereever you have increasing segregation between rich and poor, crime numbers will go up. "

To join the said by RobinHood. Rich in Sweden are taxed like crazy, whereas "poor" here can live in a house with a dog, with a car, with a kid, going on vacation once a year and owning iPads without much of a problem. Actually the financial inequality (GINI COEFICCIENT) puts Sweden SECOND in the world. SO what the hell are you talking about???

Also, an interesting fact is that absolute majority of people in phase 3 do not happen to shoot other people on the street somehow. However SOME unemployed khm khm, do not manage to see other entertainment activity.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Princess Madeleine 'not nervous' about wedding

Princess Madeleine 'not nervous' about wedding

Sweden's Princess Madeleine is "less nervous than she thought" about her impending walk down the aisle at Stockholm's Storkyrkan church to wed US financier Chris O'Neill. READ () »

Think You Know Sweden?
Quiz: 'A Swedish city with a pulse'

Quiz: 'A Swedish city with a pulse'

For this week's secret location picture gallery quiz, we head to a city that's among the top 20 in terms of population size. Can you guess which one it is in nine clues? READ () »

'Tired' Swedes have less sex than ever: study

'Tired' Swedes have less sex than ever: study

Swedes are having less sex than ever before, a new survey has revealed, and their libidos appear to have waned too, prompting researchers to warn that "desire disorders" may be keeping Swedes from getting intimate. READ () »

Man held for murder after new body parts find

Man held for murder after new body parts find

A man has been arrested on the suspicion of murdering a 20-year-old woman who vanished three weeks ago in northern Sweden, and whose suspected body parts were uncovered on Monday. READ () »

Unrest in Stockholm
Schools burn on fifth night of Stockholm riots

Schools burn on fifth night of Stockholm riots

At least two schools, a police station, and 15 cars were set ablaze in Stockholm on Thursday night as riots in the suburbs of the Swedish capital continued for the fifth straight night. READ () »

Unrest in Stockholm
Minister: Stockholm riots 'not youth versus society'

Minister: Stockholm riots 'not youth versus society'

With one 18-year-old remanded in custody after four nights of rioting in Stockholm, Sweden's Integration Minister Erik Ullenhag said the rioters are a small minority, and did not represent a clash between young people in the suburbs and society. READ () »

Swede of the Week
Firefighter to Stockholm rioters: I'll still help you

Firefighter to Stockholm rioters: I'll still help you

A viral Facebook post about the terror of being targeted by stone-throwing youths during to the ongoing Stockholm riots has made firefighter Mattias Lassén into something of a Swedish folk hero, and The Local's pick for Swede of the Week. READ () »

Northern Sweden Dispatches
Driving in Sweden: Elk, reindeer, and road rage

Driving in Sweden: Elk, reindeer, and road rage

Fresh from another near miss with a hulking behemoth of an elk, ex-Londoner Paul Connolly offers up a theory on how the prospect of imminent collisions with wayward wildlife affects the driving habits of Swedes up north. READ () »

More Society

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
 

 

Highlights
DoToday
LIFESTYLE »
What's On:The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
www.finest.se
GALLERY »
People-watching May 20-23
Erik Bloom
LIFESTYLE »
Stockholm's ten best-kept secrets - revealed
Fredrik Sanberg/Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake'
Peter Håkansson/Swedish Fashion Council
SOCIETY »
Fashion prize turns Rookies into players
La Neta
LIFESTYLE »
My Swedish Career: We talk to the founder of Stockholm's favourite Mexican restaurant chain - La Neta
Leif R Jansson/Scanpix
NATIONAL »
Riot police 'resorted to racial slurs' in Husby
Scanpix
SPORT »
Sweden win ice hockey world champs at home
Scanpix
SPORT »
Swedes sweep top French football awards
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: Check out this funky three-room apartment on the Stockholm island of Södermalm
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Sweden win Ice Hockey World Championships. See the celebrations in Stockholm
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Youths burn 100 cars in north Stockholm riots
Finest.se scanpix.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Nightlife, Ice Hockey Gold celebrations, the royal family... You name it, this week's gallery has it
WikiCommons
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Solna voted best place to live in Sweden
Scanpix
TRAVEL »
Quiz - Think You Know Sweden? This week we head to one of Sweden's ten biggest towns. But which one?
Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Eurovision host: 'Not everyone has to like me'
Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö
Paul Hansen/World Press Photo
SOCIETY »
Award-winning Swedish photographer cleared of manipulation
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
A Congolese-Swedish pastor explains the roots to recent cases of parents exorcising demons from their children in Sweden
File photo: AP
NATIONAL »
H&M backs Bangladesh building safety accord
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Eurovision: second semi-final entries
Screenshot: American Apparel
SOCIETY »
Swedes slam American Apparel over 'sexist' ads
Hasse Holmberg/Scanpix (File)
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Housing crunch forces more young Swedes to live with mum and dad
Asif Akbar/sxc.hu (File)
OPINION »
'Not all discrimination in Sweden is racism'
Lana Wimmer
GALLERY »
Hidden Stockholm Gems: Ulriksdal's Palace
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
SOCIETY »
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
AP (File)
POLITICS »
Russia 'lacks capacity' to attack Sweden: Reinfeldt
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: This week, we're looking inside a home from the 1700s just west of Stockholm. Complete with two cannons.
Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
JobTalk: Top ten tips for earning a higher salary in Sweden
Eddie Gee
LIFESTYLE »
Check out the back catalogue of all The Local's Swedes of the Week
Photo: The Local
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Stockholm International School - what’s in IT for students?

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: Boston Blatte

20 May 15:25

Hockey. Hockey. Hockey. »

"BANG!!!! BANG!!!! BANG!!! In the midst of the Stanley Cup’s Eastern Conference semifinals series, every Bostonian knows it is all about Bruins ice hockey. Oh right. I am in Sweden, home of the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation GOLD Champions. And there is certainly no doubt ice hockey fever has taken over Sweden. A lot of Swedes,..." READ »

Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS