Kista shooting linked to gang crime: police
Police are stepping up their work to crack down on gang conflicts in the Stockholm area, after two men previously known to officers were shot dead in the Kista suburb last night.
There are currently 12 ongoing gang conflicts in the Stockholm area, reported news agency TT from a police press conference on Thursday to update the media and the public after Wednesday's shooting.
"We have had a large number of serious crimes and shootings in Stockholm recently. In the past few days we've had five murders in Stockholm. Of course it is alarming and very serious," regional police chief Ulf Johansson told reporters.
Although deadly violence in Sweden has gone down in the past couple of decades, the number of gang-related shootings is up. Stockholm police are currently investigating 47 murders and 57 attempted murders. So far this year the capital has seen 17 shootings, with seven deaths and 14 people injured.
Six of the gang conflicts are in the area south of Stockholm and six north of the city.
"The conclusion is that we can't rule out new violent crimes. We have had five murders in recent days. We can conclude that these are exclusively gang-related shootings," said Patrick Ungsäter, a senior police officer representing the northern Stockholm area.
"We see them as isolated gang environments," said Ungsäter when asked if the public should be concerned for their own safety.
Police at the scene of Wednesday's shooting in Kista. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT
The latest shooting saw two men die after being found with gunshot wounds in a car in the Stockholm suburb Kista.
"I can't comment more than to say that they are part of this gang environment and previously known to us," said Ungsäter.
No arrests had been made by 3.30pm on Thursday and police are appealing for witnesses.
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There are currently 12 ongoing gang conflicts in the Stockholm area, reported news agency TT from a police press conference on Thursday to update the media and the public after Wednesday's shooting.
"We have had a large number of serious crimes and shootings in Stockholm recently. In the past few days we've had five murders in Stockholm. Of course it is alarming and very serious," regional police chief Ulf Johansson told reporters.
Although deadly violence in Sweden has gone down in the past couple of decades, the number of gang-related shootings is up. Stockholm police are currently investigating 47 murders and 57 attempted murders. So far this year the capital has seen 17 shootings, with seven deaths and 14 people injured.
Six of the gang conflicts are in the area south of Stockholm and six north of the city.
"The conclusion is that we can't rule out new violent crimes. We have had five murders in recent days. We can conclude that these are exclusively gang-related shootings," said Patrick Ungsäter, a senior police officer representing the northern Stockholm area.
"We see them as isolated gang environments," said Ungsäter when asked if the public should be concerned for their own safety.
Police at the scene of Wednesday's shooting in Kista. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT
The latest shooting saw two men die after being found with gunshot wounds in a car in the Stockholm suburb Kista.
"I can't comment more than to say that they are part of this gang environment and previously known to us," said Ungsäter.
No arrests had been made by 3.30pm on Thursday and police are appealing for witnesses.
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