Deadly Shooting in Uppsala: Three Killed, Suspect on the Run

Three people were killed in a shooting on Tuesday, April 29, in Uppsala, about 60 kilometers north of Stockholm, Swedish police reported. The gunfire erupted late in the afternoon at a hair salon in the city center, sending shockwaves through a usually quiet neighborhood.

Alerted by residents reporting “loud bangs” resembling gunshots, police swiftly cordoned off a large area, backed by a substantial deployment including helicopters and drones. A masked suspect, seen fleeing on a scooter, is actively being sought. A murder investigation has been opened.

Gang Violence Haunting Sweden

While authorities have yet to formally link the attack to gang-related activity, it comes against a backdrop of escalating violence in Sweden, where drug-fueled gang wars have taken a growing toll. Targeted killings have become more frequent, and perpetrators are increasingly young—sometimes under the age of 15, below the country’s age of criminal responsibility.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer described the incident as “extremely serious” in an interview with public broadcaster SVT.

Security Tightened Ahead of Valborg Celebrations

As Uppsala prepares to welcome between 100,000 and 150,000 visitors for the traditional Walpurgis (Valborg) festivities on Wednesday, police have sought to reassure the public. “What we know for now is that there is no immediate threat to the population,” said police spokesperson Magnus Jansson Klarin, noting that additional security measures have been deployed.

Although shootings in Sweden decreased for the second consecutive year in 2024—296 cases, down 20% from the previous year—the country remains shaken by deadly violence. In February, Sweden was rocked by a mass shooting in Örebro, where 35-year-old Rickard Andersson killed 10 people at an adult education center before turning the gun on himself. His motive remains unknown.