Friday, August 1, 2025
The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

Friday, August 1, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/wave-of-home-burglaries-hits-southern-sweden/

Sweden

Wave of home burglaries hits southern Sweden

Deteriorating safety

Published yesterday 12:34
– By Editorial Staff
A residential area in Stockholm, Sweden. NOTE: The image is an archive photo and is not connected to the text.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A wave of well-planned home burglaries has swept across southern Sweden during July. Swedish police suspect that organized gangs are behind the crimes and are now urging the public to increase vigilance.

During July, Sweden has been hit by an unusually extensive wave of home burglaries with between 45 and 50 reported cases. The crimes are spread across the West, South and East police regions, and most of the break-ins have been carried out in a similar manner, leading police to suspect that an organized gang is behind them.

The perpetrators have often gained entry by lifting out entire window frames. They have then hung up sheets indoors to conceal their presence, sorted stolen goods on beds and focused on taking jewelry and cash.

Break-ins where windows are lifted out is a well-known method, which often occurs in residential villa areas. Similar shoe prints left at multiple locations strengthen suspicions that the same group may be behind a large number of the crimes.

Professional gangs

Swedish police assess that these are professional perpetrators with good knowledge of alarms and locking devices. At least two people have likely participated in each break-in. In some cases, the properties have been surveilled in advance, indicating that the crimes were carefully planned.

– These are professional and organized gangs behind these crimes. We believe that at least two perpetrators were involved in each break-in. And in some cases we suspect they visited the locations and conducted surveillance some time before the actual break-in, says Lina Carlshamre, crime analyst at the crime coordination unit in the West police region, in a press release.

In response to this development, Swedish police have strengthened cooperation between the affected regions. The authorities are now urging villa owners to be extra vigilant – especially during vacation periods when many homes stand empty.

They emphasize the importance of maintaining contact with neighbors and reporting suspicious behavior. According to crime analysts, the motto is: better once too often than once too little.

Despite the fact that the number of residential burglaries has decreased somewhat in the country in recent years, July’s statistics show that the threat to villa owners remains.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/only-one-ambulance-on-duty-in-central-stockholm/

Sweden

Only one ambulance on duty in central Stockholm

Deteriorating safety

Published 24 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
"I would say it has never been as bad as it is now, not even during the pandemic", according to the chief safety representative for ambulance services.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

On Tuesday evening, only one ambulance was on duty in central Stockholm, Sweden. The cause is staff shortage. Now the opposition demands that the red-green regional council produce a crisis plan.

At the city station in Stockholm, there are normally four ambulances, but during the week only one of these was in service. According to Emil Skoglund, chief safety representative for ambulance services in Stockholm, the situation is the worst ever.

— We receive between 30 to 40 text messages daily about vacant shifts. We have parked vehicles everywhere. I would say it has never been as bad as it is now, not even during the pandemic, he tells the Schibsted-owned tabloid Aftonbladet.

Skoglund warns that the staff shortage poses a direct threat to Stockholm residents’ safety and that there is a risk that seriously injured or ill people will not receive ambulance service in time. He points to changed working conditions and drastically reduced starting salaries as the main causes.

Emil Skoglund is chief safety representative for ambulance services in Stockholm. Photo: private

Operations manager downplays the crisis

Jani Sundqvist, operations manager for AISAB which is responsible for ambulance services in Stockholm region, has a less dramatic view of the situation. He refers to the system of “borderless dispatch” which means that ambulances from other stations can provide coverage.

— It’s not the case that the area covered by the city station only has one vehicle, explains Sundqvist, who hopes that a new collective agreement this autumn will improve the situation.

Opposition demands crisis plan

The Moderate Party’s opposition regional councilor Kristoffer Tamsons is harshly critical.

— It is completely unacceptable that Sweden’s capital finds itself in a situation where one ambulance is supposed to serve hundreds of people. It is a threat to people’s lives and health, he says.

The Moderate Party demands that regional councilor Talla Alkurdi (Social Democrat) convene the regional board to produce a crisis plan. On Wednesday morning, Alkurdi held a crisis meeting with the Swedish Association of Health Professionals Stockholm.

Stockholm Region is governed by a coalition between the Social Democrats, Centre Party and Green Party, with support from the Left Party.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/five-explosions-reported-in-malmo-over-the-past-week/

Sweden

Five explosions reported in Malmö over the past week

Deteriorating safety

Published 21 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The recent increase in bombings in Malmö, Sweden has alarmed both police and the public. NOTE: The image is an archive photo.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Malmö, Sweden has been hit by a wave of bombings – at least five explosions have occurred during the past week. Several residential areas have been damaged, but no one has been arrested yet. Police suspect the incidents are linked to criminal networks.

During week 29, several powerful detonations have awakened residents in the southern Swedish city of Malmö. All cases are being investigated as public endangerment and violations of laws regarding flammable and explosive materials.

On Friday night, an explosion occurred at a villa in Virentofta. The blast, which happened just after 2:30 AM, caused extensive damage to the property and the area was cordoned off.

– We have made findings at one of the locations and need to examine this more closely along with potential connections, threat assessments and why this is happening at these specific places, says police spokesperson Katarina Rusin to tax-funded SVT (Swedish public television).

Just a few hours later an apartment building in Bunkeflostrand was damaged by a new explosion. Windows on two balconies were shattered, but no people were injured.

An explosion also occurred in Rosengård when a hand grenade was thrown into a stairwell on Wednesday evening. No one was hurt, but the destruction in the building was extensive.

– We can confirm that a detonation has occurred at the bottom of the stairwell of an apartment building. Only material damage has been caused, including to apartment doors, commented duty officer Peter Martin at the police.

Two additional explosions have been registered in police incident reports. Among other things, an apartment building in Limhamn was reportedly subjected to an explosion on Sunday evening, but more exact details are currently lacking.

According to recent reports, two men have been detained suspected of the explosion in Limhamn. The men are reportedly in their 30s. No further arrests have been made and police are now working with reinforced resources in the affected areas.

– We also believe there are more witnesses who may have seen or heard something, says Katarina Rusin.

Malmö thus remains severely affected by explosive violence, which according to police has clearly escalated during the summer.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/sweden-over-900-convicted-individuals-evade-prison-sentences/

Sweden

Sweden: Over 900 convicted individuals evade prison sentences

Deteriorating safety

Published 15 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Today, over 900 people are wanted for refusing to serve their prison sentences. Meanwhile, the Swedish government has tightened the rules – since April this year, no one can “wait out” their sentence anymore.

A survey by news agency Siren shows that wanted criminals are found in half of Sweden’s municipalities. In total, it involves just over 900 people who actively avoid showing up when the Swedish Prison and Probation Service calls.

Since April 1 this year, the possibility of escaping punishment by hiding until the statute of limitations expires has completely disappeared. Now the sentences remain until they are enforced, regardless of how much time passes.

– It’s no longer enough to stay hidden for five or ten years, because now the sentences will remain, says Geska Mark, group manager at the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, to the news agency.

Two-thirds report voluntarily

Statistics from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service show that between 65 and 70 percent of those convicted follow the authority’s reporting decisions and appear at the designated facility when the time comes.

– When we look year by year at how many follow our reporting decisions, the proportion is between 65 and 70 percent, states Geska Mark.

Those who are not already in custody receive a letter with instructions about where and when they should report. If they fail to appear without acceptable reason, they risk being wanted, especially if they lack a known address.

Drunk driving most common among evaders

Before the rule change, approximately one hundred people annually managed to avoid prison by staying hidden until the sentence was subject to statute of limitations. Previously, there was a five-year limitation period for sentences under one year and ten years for sentences between one and four years.

Most of those who used this “way out” had been sentenced to short prison terms, often one to two months, where drunk driving was the most common crime.

– Most of the sentences that were previously subject to statute of limitations were short prison sentences, one to two months in prison, and the most common crime was drunk driving. It often involved cases where the convicted person had no address in Sweden, explains Geska Mark.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/former-swedish-politician-convicted-of-sexual-harassment-of-minor-avoids-prison/

Sweden

Former Swedish politician convicted of sexual harassment of minor – avoids prison

Deteriorating safety

Published 27 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The district court in Sweden assesses that it is unlikely that Hemming will subject more children to sexual abuse.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Gustav Hemming, former regional politician and leading figure for the Center Party in the Stockholm Region, was convicted on Wednesday by the Attunda District Court for sexual harassment after masturbating in front of a 13-year-old boy.

The district court established that the crime had a clear sexual motive and violated the child’s sexual integrity. Despite this, Hemming was sentenced to probation, thus avoiding prison time.

The incident occurred on the Roslagsbanan commuter train in August last year, and the 52-year-old politician has admitted to the act. However, in police interviews, he claimed that the act was not criminal, arguing that he had perceived a sexual connection and that he did not understand that the boy was so young.

– I was looking around a bit and I perceived some kind of contact there that explains why, well, I perceived a kind of mutuality that can be sexually arousing in an anonymous environment, Hemming said during questioning and continued:

– From my perspective, it was a derailed sexualized flirtation.

The court dismissed this defense and determined that Hemming should have realized that the victim was a child.

“According to the district court, the politician must have understood that the victim was under 15 years of age, and since the act had a clear sexual nature and was intended to violate the victim’s sexual integrity, he is convicted of sexual harassment of a minor”, the court states.

To receive €1.1 million from taxpayers

The case became known after the TV program “Efterlyst” (Sweden’s equivalent of “America’s Most Wanted”) showed images of a man touching himself, both inside and outside his clothes, on Stockholm public transport.

A party colleague recognized Hemming and alerted the Center Party, which in turn filed a police report. The Center Party official resigned from his position this winter and was charged in May.

The district court assessed that there is no elevated risk of recidivism, which justifies the probationary sentence.

The Nordic Times has in several articles highlighted Hemming’s case – including reporting on how he was granted approximately €1.1 million in severance pay from taxpayer money, as long as he is not convicted of serious crimes.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Conditional sentence

A conditional sentence is a penalty in the Swedish legal system where the convicted person avoids prison but instead is placed under a two-year probationary period. During this period, the person must not commit any new crimes.

Conditional sentences are often given to individuals who are deemed to have a low risk of reoffending and have no prior criminal record. The sentence can be combined with fines, community service, or - as in this case - compensation to the victim.

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