Community Responds with Shock and Aid After Gävle Shooting

In the early hours of Saturday, a violent shooting on Södra Kungsgatan, Gävle, left six young people, including minors, wounded, with a 14-year-old boy arrested as a suspect. The streets, known for their vibrant nightlife with numerous restaurants and bars, were plunged into panic and chaos as people scrambled for safety.

Hampus Östlund, a 29-year-old manager at Ölstugan Tullen, was leaving work when he encountered three injured individuals outside his pub. He described one victim hopping on one leg with a foot injury and another with a gunshot wound to the thigh. Acting quickly, Östlund used his shirt as a tourniquet and brought the injured inside for refuge and first aid before the arrival of emergency services. Staff and patrons provided support amid a tense and fearful atmosphere, as shots were still echoing and people screamed around them.

Close by, Shahriar Rad, owner of a local bar, recounted receiving an anxious phone call alerting him to the attacks. Upon arrival, he witnessed a chaotic scene filled with emergency responders and the visible marks of violence—blood stains and discarded items—on the street. Rad expressed deep concern about the trauma inflicted on the community and the detrimental impact on local businesses. Simon Bergstrand, a co-owner of a neighboring restaurant, described the emotional toll on workers and the wider community, reflecting on the tragedy’s human cost.

Martti Halming, a local priest, noted that such violent acts are a growing problem in Gävle, citing previous serious incidents including a grenade explosion at a bar. He lamented how youth involvement in crime has shifted the community’s landscape, signaling a disturbing trend of escalating violence in smaller Swedish cities.

The incident has left residents shaken and fearful for safety, with the aftermath still palpable days later. Medical teams transported six victims to hospital, but the current condition of those injured remains undisclosed. This event has sparked renewed conversation about security and violence prevention in Gävle’s municipal and social spheres.