Three dead in Sweden shooting as police launch murder probe
A police officer works near the scene of a shooting, at Vaksala Square in Uppsala, Sweden, April 29. PHOTO: Reuters
At least three people have been killed in a shooting in the Swedish city of Uppsala, police confirmed on Tuesday, as authorities launched a murder investigation into the incident.
The shooting occurred near Vaksala Square, in the city centre, approximately 60 kilometres north of the capital Stockholm. According to police, emergency services were dispatched to the area after receiving calls from the public reporting gunshot-like sounds.
Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT reported that the suspect fled the scene on a scooter. Police have not released any further details about the attacker, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear.
“This is a deeply troubling incident,” said a spokesperson for Uppsala Police. “We are working diligently to understand the circumstances and bring those responsible to justice.”
Uppsala, home to around 230,000 residents, is Sweden’s fourth-largest city. The country has been grappling with a surge in gun violence over the past decade, much of it linked to organised crime and gang rivalries.
The violence has become a growing concern for Swedish authorities, with a right-wing minority government elected in 2022 on a pledge to curb gang activity.
In a separate tragedy earlier this year, Sweden experienced its deadliest mass shooting when a lone gunman killed 10 people at an education centre in the city of Orebro.
Police in Uppsala are urging anyone with information about the latest shooting to come forward as the investigation continues.