Police have recorded 151 shootings in Sweden between January and November this year. That's almost half the number from the full year of 2024, which had 296 shootings, which itself was a big drop from 2023 (368).
It is clear that shootings have decreased, especially in Stockholm, but also in other regions, says Sven Granath, criminologist at the Stockholm Police and visiting researcher at Stockholm University.
The decline is likely due to both reduced levels of conflict in criminal environments and strengthened and targeted police work. This includes arresting more perpetrators of serious acts of violence and taking more gang leaders abroad through cooperation with other countries.
More weapons have also been seized in recent years, and that is having an effect, says Granath.
More bombings
However, explosions have increased sharply this year. However, these are mainly for reasons other than gun violence.
It reflects that the motives for extortion are still there. There are still debts in the criminal world. You could say that the very personal conflicts have been reduced, but debts and extortion are still there.
The truly worrying development is that the number of children involved in serious acts of violence continues to rise. During the first eleven months of this year, 158 children under 15 have been suspected of murder plots, compared to 109 in the same period last year and 36 in 2023.
It has to do with the fact that it is now very easy to reach young people via these communication channels we have, says Sven Granath.
I don't really think the risk group itself has become that much larger. But you reach them and you replace them even more.
Children with risk factors
"It mainly concerns children with many risk factors, from low-resource homes and often with NPF diagnoses," he says.
That's where we have a problem with our digitalization. Every 13-year-old walks around with a computer in their pocket and is accessible to serious criminals around the world.
The most effective thing would, of course, be to introduce a smartphone ban for those under 15.
The fact that this phenomenon emerged at the same time as the gig economy – where people from poorer countries cycle around and deliver food to their door – is no coincidence, he believes.
It's the same cynical exploitation. Communication technology allows you to get cheap access to people without as many resources or other opportunities. If this exists, people will exploit it.
2025 (January-November): 151 shootings, 44 injured, 43 killed (ten of the deceased were murdered at Campus Risbergska in Örebro)
2024: 296 shootings, 66 injured, 44 killed
2023: 368 shootings, 108 injured, 54 killed
2022: 391 shootings, 107 injured, 62 killed
2021: 344 shootings, 114 injured, 45 killed
Explosions:
2025 (January-November): 181 detonations, 55 attempts, 206 preparations
2024: 136 detonations, 62 attempts, 126 preparations
2023: 159 detonations, 63 attempts, 139 preparations
2022: 90 detonations, 33 attempts, 68 preparations
2021: 79 detonations, 10 attempts, 69 preparations
Source: Police
