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Sweden Under Siege: Daily blasts rock Swedish cities amid gang turmoil

Deteriorating safety

Published February 8, 2024
– By Editorial Staff
There seems to be no end to the bombings in Sweden.

Criminal gangs continue to spread terror in Sweden. So far in February there have been daily explosions linked to organized crime.

As people have their homes blown up and are forced to flee in the middle of the night, neither the police nor the government can give clear answers on how to put a stop to the violence.

On February 1, a hand grenade was discovered in an apartment building in the violence-prone district of Gränby in Uppsala, 70 kilometers north of Stockholm. As the grenade was discovered before it was detonated, the police bomb squad was able to destroy it in a controlled explosion.

The police were able to confirm that the grenade was live, and the public within a one-kilometer radius was ordered to stay indoors.

– There was a very loud bang and I got scared, one resident told the Schibsted-owned tabloid Aftonbladet.

The incident is not being investigated as an attempted murder, but as an attempt at general destruction and a violation of the law on flammable and explosive goods.

Sundbyberg

On the night of February 2, it happened again - this time in Sundbyberg, ten kilometers northwest of Stockholm. Several apartments were damaged in a massive explosion, windows were shattered and the door to the apartment was blown away.

–  I saw how the paintings were hanging askew and became interested in what the rest of the place looked like. Then I went to the living room and saw that the balcony window was gone, says 87-year-old Gudrun, who was woken up by the explosion.

Several residents describe feeling unsafe in their neighborhood and fearing more explosions in the future.

– You get desperate and angry. It's so unnecessary, says a woman who lives in the area.

Vällingby

About 24 hours later, another explosion occurred - this time in an industrial area in Vällingby, about 8 kilometers west of Sundbyberg. Shortly before midnight, an explosion targeted a hairdressing salon, where the door and windows were badly damaged. No one was reportedly injured in the attack.

– It was really unpleasant. I was sitting on the couch and everything was vibrating. It was a very loud bang, a woman in Vällingby told the Schibsted-owned tabloid Aftonbladet.

"Sometimes people think we have a civil war in Sweden", writes 'Leijf' on Twitter/X.

Here, too, tenants express concern that they do not know when it will "go off" next, and that this is something that affects their entire daily lives.

– I was out walking when I heard the explosion. I felt the shock wave, says another resident of the area.

Gävle

Late on February 4, an explosive device detonated in a stairwell in Andersberg, Gävle (approximately 170 kilometers north of Stockholm), again in an apartment building. The interior of the building was damaged and the apartment door was destroyed.

The attack is said to be related to a gang conflict between two criminal gangs, the Foxtrot Network and the Dalen Network, and to the drug market in the area.

After the explosion, residents were not allowed to leave their homes for the entire day before police were able to lift the lockdown.

– We have several leads and are actively working to find the perpetrator, police spokesman Mattias Rutegård told local newspaper Gefle Dagblad.

Handen

About 24 hours later, another attack took place - this time in Handen, 22 kilometers south of Stockholm, also at night.

An explosion also occurred at an apartment building where a known gang member is registered - again, no one was reportedly injured, but a number of windows were shattered and the property was damaged.

"You read about explosions every day. You'd think they're talking about yesterday's blast, but it's a new one. Journalists could make a template, a ready-made article, and just insert the current time and location of today's blast", writes 'Urban II' on Twitter/X.

The criminal living at the address was recently arrested on suspicion of instigating a murder in Jordbro, Haninge, and another attempted murder in Åkersberga.

– I woke up frightened by the bang. I woke my partner and checked on the sleeping children. I crawled around the apartment to check that the front door was locked and that the windows were undamaged, a neighbor told the taxpayer-funded SVT.

Strängnäs

In the early hours of Tuesday, February 6, the terror continued - this time in Finninge, Strängnäs.

Shortly after four o'clock in the morning, the police were alerted to an explosion in a residential area. The bomb squad was called in, a large area was cordoned off and about 20 people were forced to evacuate their homes.

The building was not seriously damaged, but the frightened residents needed crisis support and had to go to a school building that had been opened specifically to care for the temporarily homeless.

"I am thinking of all the residents of Strängnäs in Dammen and Finninge who had to leave their homes at 4 a.m. last night, some of them by climbing out of windows. I know that many people are now helping you and I hope that you will soon be able to return home", Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson wrote on social media.

The Kurdish Fox

All of the bombings are believed to be linked to organized crime, with at least four of them targeting the Kurdish Fox and the notorious Foxtrot network.

"The 'Kurdish Fox' has long used young teenage boys in his activities. Montage. Photo: Pexels, Police

According to taxpayer-funded state media SVT, in several cases the bombings have targeted the homes of people already in custody - meaning that it is not the gang members themselves who are at risk of being killed, but their neighbors and relatives.

In several cases, bombings have also targeted family members of known criminals, although there is no evidence that the gang member himself is present.

It remains to be seen whether explosions will continue on a daily basis for the rest of February, but police officers say they are working hard to stem the tide of violence.

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Nearly 200 bombings in Sweden this year – despite record-high customs seizures

organized crime

Published October 20, 2025
– By Editorial Staff
In many cases, the attacks are carried out with hand grenades or illegal fireworks that are smuggled into the country from the Balkans or Eastern Europe.

Sweden has been hit by nearly 200 bombings during 2025. Meanwhile, customs authorities have seized over 42,000 explosive items during the first six months of the year – almost double compared to the entire previous year.

Police now see a clear shift where stolen goods from construction sites have been replaced by smuggled war materiel and illegal fireworks from the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

The bombings continue to shake Sweden. So far this year, the country has been hit by nearly 200 completed or failed bombing attacks, according to information obtained by Stampen-owned Göteborgs-Posten.

But the patterns are changing. Where it was previously most common for criminals to use explosives stolen from construction sites, police now see a new and alarming trend.

— During the summer and autumn, we have primarily seen detonations with hand grenades and with homemade explosive devices, says Malin Nygren, head of the Swedish police's national bomb data center.

Smuggling increases dramatically

Behind the change lies a sharp increase in smuggling. In many cases, it involves hand grenades or illegal fireworks being brought into the country from the Balkans or Eastern Europe.

The numbers speak for themselves: During the first half of 2025, customs seized over 42,000 explosive items. This is a record figure that almost doubles the just over 24,000 seizures made during all of 2024.

Martin Norell, expert at the Swedish Customs Service (Tullverket), shares the police's concern about the development.

— I don't feel that the situation is very bright in Sweden right now, he says.

Children manipulated to carry out the attacks

Behind the grim statistics lies a particularly dark reality: It is often children who are manipulated by criminal networks to carry out the bombing and arson attacks. The young perpetrators have in several cases been seriously injured when handling explosives and flammable liquids, and at least one death has occurred.

Many of the bombings have been carried out with smuggled hand grenades used for both revenge and extortion, and on several occasions unexploded hand grenades have been found in residential areas – or at or near preschools.

Dan Windt, operational coordinator at the Swedish police's national operations center, urges parents to be vigilant.

— Parents and other important adults need to continue being present in children's lives both physically and digitally. Ask many questions and ask for help. Contact the social services in your municipality if the child is contacted by criminals, or call the police at an early stage if you suspect that your child is about to commit a crime, so we can prevent it together.

More minors in Sweden are facing trial for serious offenses

organized crime

Published October 14, 2025
– By Editorial Staff
A conviction ruling means that a court determines guilt, but since children under 15 are not criminally responsible in Sweden, no sentence is imposed.

The number of children under 15 who are brought to trial in so-called evidentiary proceedings has increased sharply over the past year. A large proportion of the cases involve murder and attempted murder.

Up to and including September this year, 68 children under 15 have been brought to trial in evidentiary proceedings. This is nearly double compared to the entire previous year, when 38 children were processed in this type of case. The year before that, in 2023, the number was only seven cases, according to the Swedish Prosecution Authority (Åklagarmyndigheten).

Senior prosecutor Maria Franzén at the Swedish Prosecution Authority sees the increase as a consequence of rising crime rates among children and young people.

Since the proportion of children participating in this type of crime is increasing, it's an expected effect that the number of cases with evidentiary proceedings also increases, she tells Swedish public radio SR.

Not criminally responsible

Of the 68 children, a full 43 are suspected of involvement in murder, preparation for murder, or attempted murder. Among the high-profile cases is a then 13-year-old boy who allegedly shot and killed a person with connections to criminal networks inside a restaurant.

An evidentiary proceeding means that a court determines the question of guilt, but since children under 15 are not criminally responsible under Swedish law, no sentence is imposed.

Evidentiary proceedings are a good tool for social services to implement appropriate interventions for these children who have committed these crimes, says August Knutsson at the Swedish Police Authority's national operations center.

Adopted daughter suspected in knife attack on German mayor

Deteriorating safety

Published October 9, 2025
– By Editorial Staff
German police are currently focusing on Stalzer's 17-year-old adopted daughter as the main suspect for the knife attack.

Iris Stalzer is now pointing to her 17-year-old adopted daughter as the suspect in the brutal knife attack in Stalzer's home, according to fresh information. Police say the investigation's focus remains on some form of family conflict and not political violence.

In the city of Herdecke in western Germany, the investigation continues after newly elected mayor Iris Stalzer (SPD) was stabbed severely in her home earlier this week.

Police and Stalzer are now pointing to her 17-year-old adopted daughter as the main suspect in the attack, reports Die Welt.

Stalzer was severely injured and received 13 stab wounds, including to her torso and lungs. After the attack, she managed to reach safety in the house where she was later found and received immediate medical care.

She is still being treated in hospital but according to reports, her condition has stabilized and she is no longer in life-threatening condition.

Iris Stalzer (SPD). Photo: Iris Stalzer/FB

Police found several suspected knives in the children's room. They also discovered bloodstains on clothing believed to belong to the adopted daughter as well as traces of blood cleaning in the residence.

The 15-year-old adopted son remains under police investigation but is not being identified as the main suspect.

In the year before the attack, several incidents of family violence have been reported and police have been called to the family's residence on repeated occasions.

Police now rule out a political motive behind the knife attack and see family conflicts as the main lead in the investigation.

The investigation continues intensively and the murder investigation unit in Hagen is leading the work to secure evidence and clarify motives.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz quickly condemned the attack and expressed hope for Stalzer's swift recovery.

Newly elected German mayor targeted in attempted murder – family member prime suspect

Deteriorating safety

Published October 8, 2025
– By Editorial Staff
During the year, incidents of domestic violence have been reported in Stalzer's home, and police have previously been called to the residence due to violent incidents.

Iris Stalzer (SPD), newly elected mayor of the city of Herdecke in western Germany, was found yesterday in her home with life-threatening stab wounds. Police currently rule out a political motive and instead suspect the incident is connected to her family.

In Herdecke, a smaller city in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of western Germany, 57-year-old Iris Stalzer was found with multiple life-threatening stab wounds in her apartment on Tuesday.

According to information from her adoptive son, she was attacked outdoors by several men, but despite the severe injuries managed to retreat to her home. Politicians from across Germany quickly condemned the attack and expressed concern for Iris Stalzer's health.

Police have launched a major investigation and currently rule out that the attack had a political motive, instead suspecting that the perpetrator is actually within her own family circle.

Stalzer's two adoptive children, a 15-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter, have been brought in for questioning and further investigation. Recent reports indicate that it is the 15-year-old adoptive son who has been arrested as the suspect for the attempted murder.

History of reported domestic violence

During the year, incidents of domestic violence have been reported at Stalzer's home, and police have previously been called to the residence due to violent incidents.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the act a "despicable attack" and expressed hope for Stalzer's swift recovery. He has also directed his thoughts to her family and relatives.

Stalzer belongs to the Social Democrats (SPD) and she won the mayoral election with 52.2 percent of the votes, breaking the Christian Democrats' long rule in Herdecke. The small city of around 23,000 inhabitants has now gathered in concern over the serious attack.

This is far from the first time German politicians have been victims of violence. Historically, similar serious attacks have shaken the country and contributed to a growing debate about the safety of public representatives.

The investigation continues with forensic analyses and the murder investigation unit in the nearby city of Hagen has reportedly taken over the investigation.

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