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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

Wave of Extortion Behind the Blasts
Photo: Johan Nilsson / TT

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.

They have no connection to people or addresses, and navigate mainly through different map services, says Max Åkerwall.

Are you monitoring addresses that you suspect may be targeted?

I'm not going into details, but it's clear that we have a number of addresses that we're taking action against in various ways.

January 4, 20:05. Kortedala, Gothenburg

January 4, 21:06. Täby centrum, Täby

January 4, 21:21. Kålltorp, Gothenburg

January 7, 00:29. Valdemarsro, Malmö

January 10, 03:25. Hammarbyhöjden, Stockholm

January 11, 03:03. Bredäng, Stockholm

January 11, 13:13. Hagsätra, Stockholm

January 12, 06:01. Eklanda, Mölndal

January 13, 21:47. Segersjö, Tumba

January 14, 21:46. Stenkulla, Nyköping

January 15, 01:00. Märsta, Sigtuna

January 15, 22:12. Alby, Botkyrka

January 15, 23:35. Johanneberg, Gothenburg

January 18, 00:22. Hökåsen, Västerås

January 18, 03:36. Segeltorp, Huddinge

January 18, 04:22. Johanneshov, Stockholm

January 20, 19:30. Skärholmen, Stockholm

January 20, 23:30. Västra Frölunda, Gothenburg

January 21, 03:00. Brottsta, Eskilstuna

January 22, 03:00. Norsborg, Stockholm

January 23, 00:03. Kungsängen, Uppsala

January 23, 00:15. Brandbergen, Haninge

January 23, 22:03. Farsta, Stockholm

January 24, 00:32. Söderkulla, Malmö

January 24, 01:00. Stenby, Eskilstuna

January 26, 03:42. Enskededalen, Stockholm

January 26, 19:16. Tollare, Nacka

January 27, 02:11. Bro, Upplands-Bro

January 28, 02:55. Ödåkra, Helsingborg

January 28, 04:05. Kärrtorp, Stockholm

January 28, 08:46. Bagarmossen, Stockholm

Source: The police

During Tuesday afternoon, another explosion occurred in Årstaberg, Stockholm.

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TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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