Sharp Increase in Youth Violent Crime Alarms Swedish Authorities
Violent crimes by Swedish children have surged in 2025, with arrests of very young suspects, online gang recruitment, and a fatal shooting highlighting the crisis.
- • 66 children aged 13-14 arrested for violent crimes in first eight months of 2025, up from 27 in 2024.
- • Four suspects aged 7-12 identified in violent offenses, an unusual and worrying trend.
- • Recruitment into violent crime increasingly done online, with financial promises rarely fulfilled.
- • Mohammed, a 52-year-old father, was shot dead by a 15-year-old; the shooter admitted firing under duress.
- • Police proactively intercept murder plans, resulting in a decrease in gun violence compared to previous year.
Key details
Sweden is witnessing a significant rise in violent crimes committed by children and teenagers, prompting serious concern among law enforcement. Between January and August 2025, 66 children aged 13 or 14 were arrested on suspicion of violent acts, more than doubling from 27 arrests during the same period in 2024. In a disturbing trend, police have identified four suspects aged between 7 and 12 involved in violent offenses, indicating that criminal activity is affecting increasingly younger children. This rise is highlighted by a recent shooting in Gävle where six people were injured, with a 14-year-old boy suspected as the shooter.
The recruitment of young people into violent crime is evolving, with much of it now occurring online. Mats Berggren from the National Operations Department explained that these young recruits are often lured by promises of large financial rewards, sometimes in the millions, though actual payments are rarely made, making these youths disposable assets within criminal networks.
Adding to the gravity of youth violence in Sweden is the case of Mohammed, a 52-year-old father fatally shot outside a restaurant in Uppsala by a 15-year-old. Mohammed was not the intended target, and the accused boy confessed to firing under duress, receiving 200,000 kronor for the act. A 17-year-old accomplice has also been charged. Mohammed's family mourns the loss while seeking justice for the instigators behind the crime.
Despite these alarming trends, police efforts to intercept violent plans are yielding results. Petra Lundh, national police chief, noted a sharp increase in indictments for murder preparation—from 50 to 140—and murder conspiracy—from 10 to 85—demonstrating proactive policing. This intervention has contributed to a decrease in gun violence, with 45 victims (23 fatalities) reported so far in 2025, significantly down from 78 the previous year. Lundh credits improved teamwork and intelligence sharing across regions for this progress.