Swedish Army to Assist Police in Response to Increase in Killings by Gangs

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden has announced that the Swedish army will assist the police in dealing with an increase in gang-related killings. Starting next week, the army will provide support in areas such as analysis, logistics, explosives handling, and forensic work. Mr. Kristersson emphasized the need to update the country's laws to address the growing threat of gang violence. In recent weeks, there have been 12 gang-related murders, the highest number since December 2019. The prime minister's announcement came after discussions with top officials from the army, police, and justice ministry. He stated that the army's specialized skills, such as explosives expertise and IT forensic analysis, could be of great assistance to the police. Furthermore, Mr. Kristersson acknowledged that Sweden's current legislation must adapt to effectively address ambiguous situations where the nature of the threat is unclear. The recent surge in deaths has been linked to a feud within the Foxtrot gang network, which has divided into rival factions. The prime minister stressed the increasing risk to innocent bystanders and children. In 2020, Sweden witnessed a record-high number of shootings, resulting in over 60 deaths, and this year is expected to follow a similar trend. Reports have cited factors such as poor immigrant integration, income inequality, and drug use as contributing to the violence. Although Mr. Kristersson's government, formed with the support of the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats, has not yet been successful in curbing the violence, he has proposed increased surveillance, stricter penalties for breaking gun laws, enhanced deportation powers, and the implementation of stop and search zones as potential measures. Critics argue that these measures overlook underlying social issues such as child poverty and underfunded community services.