Decline in Shootings Contrasts with Surge in Explosions in Summer 2025
Sweden sees a notable drop in shootings while bombings surge this summer.
Key Points
- • Shootings in Sweden have halved this summer compared to last summer.
- • There were 40 shootings in Sweden this summer, resulting in three deaths.
- • Explosions have risen to 39 incidents this summer, up from 26 last summer.
- • The majority of shootings occurred in the Stockholm area.
Recent police statistics reveal that while shootings in Sweden have significantly declined this summer, incidents of bombings and explosions have increased alarmingly. During the months of June, July, and August 2025, Sweden recorded a total of 40 shootings—a marked decrease from 96 incidents reported in the same period last year. Of these shootings, three resulted in fatalities, predominantly occurring in the Stockholm area.
This decline in gun violence is part of a broader downward trend, as the total number of shootings has halved since 2022, with 113 incidents noted by August 2025 compared to 276 during the same timeframe in 2022. Police attribute this reduced violence partly to increased law enforcement efforts and stricter measures against gun-related crime.
However, this positive development is overshadowed by a sharp rise in bombings. During the same summer period, explosions surged to 39 incidents, up from 26 the previous summer. This spike in explosive incidents raises concerns about shifting patterns in violent crime and the potential emergence of new threats to public safety.
Police officials are now grappling with these contrasting trends, emphasizing the urgency to address the escalating danger posed by explosives, which may signal a shift in the criminal landscape in Sweden. Authorities are committed to reviewing strategies to combat not only gun crime but also the rising tide of explosions and other violent acts that are increasingly affecting communities across the nation.
As summer 2025 concludes, the focus remains on understanding the underlying reasons for these shifts in violence and implementing measures to improve safety for all citizens.