By BlogHear News Team | May 4, 2025
UPPSALA, Sweden — Swedish police have arrested six individuals in connection with a deadly shooting at a hair salon in Uppsala, which left three young people dead and sparked fears of escalating gang violence in the region.
The attack occurred on Tuesday, April 29, just before the Walpurgis Night festivities, a popular annual celebration in the university town of Uppsala. The victims, aged between 15 and 20, were shot inside the “Shalom” hair salon, a local hotspot for young people. The shooting took place in broad daylight, as large crowds gathered in the streets for the spring festival.
The suspects, ranging in age from under 18 to 45, are believed to be linked to gang activity, though police have yet to confirm the full motive. A 16-year-old, initially arrested shortly after the incident, was released on May 2. Authorities have since apprehended four men, aged 20 to 45, on charges including murder and incitement to murder. Two additional individuals were arrested on May 3, bringing the total number of suspects to six.
Police are investigating the possibility that the shooting is connected to the ongoing turf wars between rival gangs in Uppsala, led by Ismail Abdo and Rawa Majid. Both gangs have been active in the city for years and have ties to broader organized crime networks.
The father of one of the victims, a 15-year-old boy, shared an emotional account of the tragedy. His son had asked for money to get a haircut before the festivities, and that was the last he heard from him before the deadly attack. “He was a really nice boy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could have happened to anyone,” the father told Swedish state broadcaster SVT.
Reports suggest that one of the victims had been previously involved in a police investigation related to a planned attack against a relative of gang leader Ismail Abdo. However, no charges were filed in that case.
Sweden has seen a surge in gang-related violence over the past few years, with an alarming rise in shootings and killings linked to criminal organizations. Authorities are grappling with how to address the growing problem, especially among teenagers involved in gang activity.
In response to the wave of violence, the Swedish government has proposed new legislation that would allow police to wiretap children as young as 15 in an effort to combat gang recruitment.
Swedish leaders, including Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, have condemned the killings and vowed to take stronger action against gang violence. “These violent acts are an attack on the safety and security of our communities, and we will not tolerate it,” Kristersson said.
The investigation into the Uppsala shooting is ongoing, and police continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.
For more updates on this developing story, stay with BlogHear.com.
