Three people lost their lives in a shooting in Uppsala, Sweden, on Tuesday night. This tragic event has prompted a murder investigation by the local police.
Witnesses reported hearing five gunshots and saw people fleeing for safety. The shooting occurred in a busy area, and initial reports suggest it might have taken place near a hairdresser’s.
Uppsala, located about 70 kilometers north of Stockholm, has seen an increase in gang-related violence in recent years, though such incidents typically happen outside the city center. The Swedish justice minister, Gunnar Strommer, described the shooting as a "brutal act of violence" occurring just before the Walpurgis Night celebrations, a spring festival in Sweden.
Authorities are treating this incident as a homicide but have not confirmed whether it is linked to terrorism or hate crimes. They are investigating a report that someone left the scene on an electric scooter, although it remains unclear if this person was a suspect or a witness.
The shooting has raised concerns about public safety, particularly as Sweden grapples with rising gang violence. The current government, which took office in 2022, has promised to address this issue by tightening gun laws and enhancing police powers.
As the investigation unfolds, the community is left in shock, mourning the loss of life and grappling with the implications of such violence in their city.