A few hours before Strömmer's visit to Kungsmässan in Kungsbacka, the Minister of Justice received news of another gallery shooting.
This time in Sollentuna center, where a man in his 30s was shot in a restaurant area just before lunchtime on Wednesday.
We see that the total number of shootings is decreasing compared to the record year 2022. But I have always said that beneath the surface, the risk of new waves of violence is bubbling, he says.
Man to hospital
Like Sollentuna, Sunday's shooting at Kungsmässan occurred in the middle of the day with many people in motion. After the two violent incidents, shocked people have testified to the fear they felt when the shots were fired.
The risk of being close to such events is still extremely small, says Strömmer.
But we see examples of it happening, and it is an expression of violent crime that has also become more reckless when it comes to the consequences for completely innocent people, says Strömmer.
The shot man has been taken to hospital after the shooting in Sollentuna. The police have initiated a preliminary investigation into attempted murder, but no one has yet been arrested as a suspect for the crime.
In the Kungsbacka case, two boys – both 14 years old – have been detained as suspects for two cases of attempted murder and aggravated weapons offenses, as well as aiding and abetting attempted murder.
"Need to be aware"
Wednesday's shooting in Sollentuna is the third to attract widespread attention in a short time, after a person was shot to death in their home in Malmö earlier in the week.
According to Strömmer, it is important that different social actors, such as the police, municipalities, property owners, and security guards, work together to handle what he calls "very reckless violence".
TT: Do citizens need to be worried about being in a shopping center given the recent violent incidents?
I don't know if worry is the right way to handle it. But everyone needs to be aware that crime exists and that it has a large capacity for violence, says Gunnar Strömmer.
