Multiple Fatalities in Shooting at Vaksala Square in Uppsala, Sweden

 Multiple Fatalities in Shooting at Vaksala Square in Uppsala, Sweden

Uppsala, Sweden – April 29, 2025
A tragic shooting rocked the city of Uppsala today, leaving several people dead in a violent incident at Vaksala Square, a public area known for its historical significance. The attack, which occurred in broad daylight, has once again highlighted Sweden's escalating struggle with gun violence and gang-related crime.

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after the incident was reported, with images showing a heavy presence of ambulances, police vehicles, and emergency personnel. Paramedics in high-visibility uniforms were seen attending to victims, while police cordoned off the square to secure the area and begin their investigation. The exact number of casualties has not yet been officially confirmed, but authorities have stated that multiple individuals were fatally shot.

The shooting took place in Uppsala, one of Sweden's larger cities, which has increasingly been affected by the country’s rising tide of gun violence. According to a 2024 report by The Guardian, much of Sweden’s gun-related crime has been concentrated in urban centers like Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, and Uppsala, with the gun-murder rate in the Swedish capital being roughly 30 times that of London on a per capita basis in 2022. Uppsala, in particular, has seen a growing influence of gang activity, often linked to socioeconomic challenges such as poverty and inequality, which experts identify as key drivers of this violence.

Swedish authorities have yet to release details about the motive or the identities of the perpetrators, but the incident bears the hallmarks of gang-related violence, a phenomenon that has surged in Sweden over the past two decades. The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention notes that gang-related firearm incidents have increased tenfold since the early 1990s, with a marked rise in the use of automatic firearms contributing to the lethality of such attacks. In 2021, Sweden recorded the second-highest gun homicide rate in Europe, trailing only Croatia, according to a Wikipedia entry updated in 2025.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as shots rang out in the busy square, sending pedestrians fleeing for safety. “It happened so fast,” said one local resident who wished to remain anonymous. “We heard loud bangs, and everyone started running. It’s heartbreaking to see this happening here.”

The incident has sparked renewed debate about Sweden’s approach to crime and public safety. Social media reactions to the shooting, as seen in responses to a post by Visegrád 24 on X, reflect growing frustration among the public. Some users pointed to Sweden’s immigration policies as a contributing factor, while others criticized the country’s broader social and ideological approaches, with one user lamenting, “Sweden has become the laughing stock of Europe.” Another commenter noted the irony of the Swedish armed forces participating in pride parades, questioning whether such priorities have detracted from addressing the nation’s security challenges.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who has previously described Sweden’s gun violence crisis as unprecedented in Europe, is expected to address the nation later today. In a 2024 statement, Kristersson remarked, “Sweden has never before seen anything like this. No other country in Europe is seeing anything like this.” The government has faced mounting pressure to tackle the root causes of gang violence, including the recruitment of young people into criminal networks, a trend that has worsened in recent years.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Sweden’s low resolution rate for gun homicides—only 25% compared to 90% in countries like Germany and Finland—has raised concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement in addressing such crimes. Criminologist Jerzy Sarnecki, in a 2018 interview with Forskning & Framsteg, admitted that the scale of gun crime in Sweden had taken experts and police by surprise, a sentiment that continues to resonate as incidents like today’s shooting unfold.

As the investigation into the Vaksala Square shooting continues, Uppsala remains on edge, with residents mourning the loss of life and grappling with the harsh realities of a city—and a country—struggling to reclaim its reputation as one of Europe’s safest nations. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to bring those responsible to justice.

This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.