National Police Chief Petra Lundh and Deputy National Police Chief Stefan Hector tell TT that the 21-year-old was arrested in Iraq in December.
The police do not want to confirm who the arrested person is, but according to information provided to TT it is Ali Shehab. He is described as a central figure in Foxtrot and has been internationally wanted for a long time. Shehab is on Europol's "Most Wanted" list.
"This person is very close to the top leader in Foxtrot," says Petra Lundh.
"He is someone who orders murders. He has been in Iraq and has placed those orders."
Pointed out as a key figure
The 21-year-old man is identified in several investigations as a key figure in organized crime with a direct impact on Sweden. According to information provided to TT, he is suspected, among other things, of instigating the mass shooting in Gävle last year.
Shehab is being held in absentia in several district courts on a large number of charges of instigating murder, instigating attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
However, the man was arrested in Iraq on charges for crimes committed there. He is a citizen of both Sweden and Iraq, which makes extradition difficult.
"You could say it's good that he's been rendered harmless," says Lundh.
Further arrest
Stefan Hector emphasizes that the important thing is that the man can no longer instigate violent crimes in Sweden.
"At the end of the day, we are satisfied that he is in custody and can no longer instigate murder," says Hector.
In connection with the arrest of the 21-year-old, another person with connections to Foxtrot was also arrested.
In the past year, the police have arrested several gang leaders abroad and have also had them extradited, thanks to the Swedish police building relationships, collaborations and establishing channels of contact with legal systems in other countries.
In this case, Swedish police have drawn the attention of Iraqi police to Shehab.
"We say this: We would like this person arrested and extradited, but if that is not possible, we want to draw your attention to the fact that he is a problem for Iraq as well," says Hector.
“Can't be safe”
He describes the arrest of the 21-year-old in Iraq as a strategic breakthrough that could have a major impact on gang violence in Sweden.
"This person is very strategically important to the Foxtrot network," says Hector.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) says in a comment to TT that the arrests are the result of hard work by Swedish police, prosecutors and enhanced cooperation with Iraq.
"To those of you who are hiding from Swedish justice abroad, I want to say: You are not safe anywhere."
Ali Shehab is suspected of a long series of serious violent crimes linked to the Foxtrot network.
Shooting in Gävle: According to information provided to TT, Shehab is suspected of instigating the shooting in Gävle in October 2025, when six people were shot.
Double murder in Farsta: Ali Shehab has been held in absentia for a long time, suspected of instigating a shooting in Farsta city centre in southern Stockholm in June 2023. A boy and a man were shot to death and 17 other people were subjected to attempted murder.
According to information provided to Expressen, Shehab is also suspected of three additional counts of incitement to murder, as well as one count of conspiracy to murder. The murders concern three shootings last year: a murder in Lund on January 28, a murder in Gävle on February 21, and a murder in Alby south of Stockholm on February 24.
