Wave of Extortion Behind the Blasts

The wave of explosions is driven by a clear increase in extortion against entrepreneurs and private individuals, according to the police. The deeds are carried out by youths who take on the assignments over the internet. It's about quick money, says Max Åkerwall, deputy police chief in South Stockholm.

» Published: January 28 2025

The criminals' bombings are nothing new, but the scope during the beginning of 2025 is unprecedented, with more than one explosion per day occurring in January.

Over half of them have taken place in the Stockholm area.

A rough estimate is that we currently stop and prevent at least as many from happening, says Max Åkerwall.

The development is traced by the police to an increased extortion activity within organized crime, which targets both private individuals and entrepreneurs.

It's entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial families, who are being extorted in various ways, through different stages, threats, concealed or open. The whole purpose is to get a financial transaction, if you don't get the transfer, it quickly turns into a door shooting or a bombing.

Scare into payment

According to the police's assessment, the purpose is to scare the victim into paying, not primarily to harm or kill.

So how should one act?

First and foremost, never get involved with criminal activity in the form of financing or loans. If you do, you'll draw a lot of vulnerabilities that they can take advantage of, says Max Åkerwall.

And then, if you experience being pressured or threatened, contact us as soon as possible so we can intervene and stop it, instead of waiting until it blows up at a front door or a business premises.

Why the extortions are increasing right now is hard to answer, according to Max Åkerwall, but one explanation could be that it has become very easy to find kids who are willing to take on assignments to bomb or shoot.

What is perceived as quick, easy money is a driving force, but often they don't get any money, we catch a very large number on preparation or planning crimes, or in close connection to a carried-out attack.

Social media

The kids often come into contact with the instigator on open channels, and then move the communication to encrypted apps where the crime is planned further.

Not infrequently, they come from completely different parts of the country and don't know the areas where they set off the bombs.