Sweden at the mercy of criminal gangs

Since the death in early August of a 12-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet in a gang shooting on the outskirts of Stockholm, juvenile violence has become a major topic in Sweden. The state and society must take concrete steps to confront this problem, commentators demand.

Open/close all quotes
Svenska Dagbladet (SE) /

Mafia clans don't just exist in films

It's high time the public took notice of this growing problem, Svenska Dagbladet demands:

“A criminal family that rules the Gothenburg district of Angered has set up roadblocks in a feud with another gang. ... But for some reason the Swedes seem to know more about the Italian Mafia families that once dominated New York's underworld than they do about the Mafia families here in Sweden. ... Sweden is gradually losing control of its territory. Angered is just one of several examples. There are similar families and criminal networks in other places. This problem must now be addressed openly.”

Dagens Nyheter (SE) /

Tougher rules for young criminals

Citing crime statistics which show that the age of violent offenders is constantly decreasing, Dagens Nyheter calls for corresponding changes to the legislation:

“In these gangs, tasks are distributed with the mild sentences for juveniles in mind. The result that it is increasingly young offenders who commit serious crimes such as murder. The judiciary must confront this reality. ... Young people can easily get carried away with overconfidence, and it is important to intervene quickly in circles where many myths about gangster life are circulating.”