The 2025 Uppsala shooting was a mass shooting that occurred on April 29, 2025, at a hair salon in Vaksala Square, central Uppsala, Sweden. The attack resulted in the deaths of three individuals, all aged between 15 and 20, and is considered part of Sweden's ongoing gang-related violence. A 16-year-old male suspect was detained in connection with the incident, which took place during the city's Walpurgis Night celebrations.[1][2][3][4]
On April 29, 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time, Swedish police received multiple reports of gunshots in Vaksala Square, Uppsala. Witnesses reported hearing five to eight shots inside a hair salon. Emergency services responded promptly, cordoning off the area and advising the public to avoid Vaksala Square. Three individuals, aged 15 to 20, were found dead at the scene. The suspect, described as masked, fled on an electric scooter, a method often linked to gang-related shootings in Sweden, according to SVT.[1][2][3][5]
Investigation
Swedish police launched a murder investigation, detaining a 16-year-old male suspect on April 30, 2025. The suspect, who had recently returned from Somalia and run away from a group home, was held on suspicion of murder. Uppsala's deputy chief prosecutor, Magnus Berggren, noted the suspect's age and background but stated the motive remained unclear. Police are exploring potential gang connections, though no definitive link was confirmed.[6] Door-to-door inquiries were conducted to gather witness accounts, and the victims' identities were not publicly disclosed, with next of kin still being notified.[1][2][3]
Response
The shooting, occurring during Walpurgis Night celebrations, shocked Uppsala. Justice MinisterGunnar Strömmer called it "a brutal act of violence," while Prime MinisterUlf Kristersson condemned it as "terrible and ruthless." The shooting heightened concerns about youth involvement in Sweden's gang violence, as minors often face lighter sentences, making them targets for recruitment by criminal networks.[1][2][3][7][4]
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