Sweden: Living with guns and gangs

Sweden has become a European hotspot for deadly shootings, rocking its reputation as a safe and peaceful nation. Last year, a record 62 people were killed in gun violence in the Nordic nation, which has a population of just ten million. There has been a fresh wave of shootings and explosions in 2023, many of them linked to a split within one criminal gang. But police say violent, unlawful networks are active across the country. They are especially worried about gang leaders recruiting growing numbers of children, who are murdering other young people and their families in disputes about drugs and weapons. Stockholm-based broadcaster Maddy Savage and Nikoi Djane – an ex-gang member turned criminologist – explore what is behind Sweden’s trend for shoot-to-kill murders, which crime researchers say is unique in Europe. They speak to teenagers in the capital about what it’s like to grow up around drugs, guns and gangs, and explore what is being done to tackle the problem. Many gang members were born in Sweden to immigrant parents, and the recent violence has reignited intense political debates about integration. A right-wing government elected in 2022 has already introduced tougher punishments for offences linked to criminal networks and enlisted help from the Swedish military. Meanwhile the families of teenagers killed in recent violence have taken matters into their own hands, patrolling the streets in areas where people have been shot. We also visit Framtidens Hus, a community centre that is inspiring teenagers to study, find work, and develop new interests, instead of turning to crime. Presenters: Maddy Savage and Nikoi Djane Producer: Maddy Savage Researcher: Josephine Frans A Bespoken Media production for BBC World Service