A shooting at a hair salon in central Uppsala, Sweden, left three people dead on Tuesday, sparking fresh concerns over gun violence ahead of the city’s annual Valborg spring festival.
Police confirmed the deaths and said the attack was carried out by a masked gunman who reportedly fled on an electric scooter.
“We have three people confirmed dead, but we have not confirmed their identities yet,” police spokesman Magnus Jansson Klarin told AFP. “We received reports of a masked person on an electric scooter, we are looking into those reports.”
Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer described the killings as “extremely serious.” While officials did not confirm gang involvement, the shooting adds to Sweden’s ongoing struggle with gang-related violence.
Despite the incident, Klarin assured the public: “People should not be afraid to come tomorrow,” referencing the expected 100,000–150,000 visitors for the festival.
Sweden recorded 92 deadly violence cases in 2024.
