Three people were killed and several others injured in a shooting that occurred in central Uppsala, Sweden, on Tuesday evening. The police have launched a homicide investigation but have not yet confirmed whether the incident was related to terrorism or a hate crime.
Authorities responded swiftly to reports of gunfire in the city center, where witnesses described hearing at least five shots before people fled for cover. Emergency services rushed to the scene, confirming the fatalities, and investigators are continuing to gather information. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and police are withholding details about the possible motive.
“We have information that a person left the scene on an electric scooter,” a police spokesperson told Reuters. “At this time, it is unclear whether this person is a perpetrator, a witness, or someone with some connection to the incident.”
The use of electric scooters as a means of escape has been linked to previous gang-related shootings in Sweden, particularly in connection with the country’s ongoing violence tied to criminal organizations. Uppsala, located about 40 minutes north of Stockholm, has seen a rise in gang-related shootings over the past decade, though they have typically occurred outside the city center.
Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer condemned the violence, describing the shooting as a “brutal act” that occurred during the lead-up to Walpurgis Night, an annual celebration. Strommer confirmed that the Justice Ministry is closely monitoring the investigation. “This is extremely serious,” he said in a statement.
The shooting follows a spate of gun violence in Sweden, including a deadly mass shooting earlier this year in Örebro, where ten people were killed in the deadliest attack in Swedish history. Swedish authorities have been grappling with a surge in gang-related violence over the past decade, which has included an increase in shootings.
In response to the violence, Sweden’s right-wing government, which came into power in 2022, has pledged to crack down on gang activity. The government has introduced stricter laws and increased police powers, and following the Örebro attack, promised to tighten gun control laws further.
As the investigation into Tuesday’s shooting continues, Uppsala remains on high alert. Local police have called on the public to come forward with any information related to the incident, particularly regarding the individual seen on the electric scooter.
Sources By Agencies
