Fatal violence increased last year compared to 2022, with the greatest increase among minors, according to statistics from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå).
In 2023, 488 reports of murder, manslaughter or infanticide were received, a large proportion of which turned out to be suicides, accidents or natural causes of death. A total of 121 cases of lethal violence were confirmed in Sweden, which is five more than in 2022. In 88 of the cases, the victims were men, which is five cases less than the previous year. The remaining 33 victims were women, which is an increase of 10 persons.
In 104 of the cases, the individuals were over the age of 18, which is a decrease of four individuals compared to 2022. In addition, 17 cases involved victims under the age of 18, nine more than the previous year.
– During the year, both more minors and more women were victims of lethal violence compared to the previous year. To some extent, this is a result of conflicts in a criminal environment with a fatal outcome, where people under the age of 18 and also women are involved, says Jan Lundbeck, statistician at Brå, in a press release.
There were ten fatal cases of intimate partner violence, which is the same level as in 2022. All victims were women.
Firearms were the most common method used in 53 cases, followed by knives or other stabbing weapons in 41 cases.
