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.
