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A shooting outside a mosque in the city of Örebro on Friday has resulted in one fatality and a second man injured, in an incident police believe is linked to the country’s ongoing struggle with gang-related crime. The attack, which occurred shortly after Friday prayers, has once again brought Sweden's escalating violence to the forefront.
According to police, a 25-year-old man died from his injuries in the hospital. A second man, also in his 20s, sustained non-life-threatening wounds and is currently receiving medical treatment. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple shots fired as worshippers were leaving the Örebro Mosque in the Boglundsängen area. Authorities were alerted to the incident around 1:45 PM local time.
While the location of the attack—near a place of worship—raised initial concerns, police and officials from the Swedish Islamic Federation have stressed that the mosque was not the target. Tahir Akan, the federation's president, stated that the shooting stemmed from a "personal dispute" between the attacker and the victims, and was not motivated by racism or a general attack on the congregation. A large-scale manhunt is underway for the shooter or shooters, who remain at large. Police have launched a preliminary investigation into murder, attempted murder, and aggravated weapons offenses.
The incident underscores the deeply entrenched issue of gang violence that has plagued Sweden for over a decade. The country has seen a significant increase in shootings and bombings, with criminal networks often recruiting teenagers to carry out violent acts. This latest event in Örebro is another tragic chapter in this ongoing crisis.
It is the second major gun-related incident to hit Örebro this year, following a separate and unrelated attack in February. In that incident, a former student killed ten people at a school before taking his own life, in what was the deadliest gun attack in modern Swedish history. While that mass shooting was not connected to gang activity, it highlights the city's recent and tragic history with firearms violence. The community remains on high alert as the police continue their investigation and search for those responsible.
