Swedish Prime Minister Calls Upon Army Chief Following Sharp Increase in Killings by Gangs

Sweden's prime minister has called upon the head of the armed forces to help address a recent surge in gang killings. The prime minister, the armed forces chief, and the country's police chief are set to meet and discuss potential military involvement in combating the issue. The urgency of the situation was underscored by a violent 12-hour period, during which two men were fatally shot in Stockholm and a 25-year-old woman lost her life in a home explosion north of the capital. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson promised in a rare televised address that the government would aggressively pursue and defeat the gangs responsible for the violence. In response, armed forces chief Micael Byden expressed his willingness to assist the police in their efforts. The actual nature of the military's involvement has yet to be determined, though previous discussions suggest that soldiers may assume certain policing responsibilities, enabling the police to allocate more resources to crime-fighting. According to Dagens Nyheter, 12 individuals have been killed in gang-related violence this month, marking the highest number since December 2019. The recent increase in violence has been attributed to internal conflicts within a gang called the Foxtrot network, which has split into two rival factions. Prime Minister Kristersson characterized the situation as unprecedented in Sweden and stated that no other European country was facing a comparable crisis. He emphasized that children and innocent bystanders were increasingly becoming victims of violence nationwide. In addition to the gang killings, a woman was killed in an overnight explosion in Fullero, approximately 80 km north of Stockholm. The prime minister revealed that the victim was likely a neighbor of an individual connected to organized crime. Prior to this incident, a man in his 20s was shot dead in Jordbro, just south of the capital. Separately, an 18-year-old man was fatally shot near a crowded sports ground in Stockholm. Gun violence in Sweden reached a record high last year, with over 60 people losing their lives in shootings. This year's figures are projected to be similar or worse. A government report released in 2021 indicated that four out of every million inhabitants in Sweden annually die in shootings, compared to the European average of 1.6 people per million. Authorities have linked the escalating violence to factors such as inadequate immigrant integration, widening wealth disparity, and drug use. Despite being in power since last year, the center-right minority government led by Prime Minister Kristersson, with the support of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, has yet to effectively address the violence. The prime minister has announced plans for increased surveillance, stricter penalties for violating gun laws, enhanced deportation powers, and the establishment of stop and search zones. He stated that he drew inspiration from his recent visit to New York City and was determined to explore all available strategies to combat the problem.