2025 Sees Unprecedented Rise in Lethality of Shootings in Sweden

In 2025, Sweden is facing an alarming increase in the lethality of shootings, marked by a record high death toll from gun violence. Recent reports indicate that there has been a shift in violent crime, with four young men shot dead within a single week, a trend described by Jale Poljarevius, the regional intelligence chief, as resembling execution-style killings.

Current statistics reveal that in this year, there are 4.9 shootings for every death, contrasting sharply with 7.6 from the years 2017 to 2024. This implies that while total shootings may have decreased, those occurring are becoming increasingly fatal. Notable incidents took place in Biskopsgården, Uppsala, and Järfälla, all tied to ongoing conflicts among organized crime networks.

Poljarevius attributes this rise in fatalities to the presence of more skilled hired guns who employ a precise and deadly approach to violence. The execution methods observed reflect classic mafia tactics, raising significant concerns about the growing influence and capability of criminal organizations in Sweden.