Sweden has faced a surge in gang-related bombings, with 32 explosions reported since the start of the year, mostly in Stockholm. The nationalist Sweden Democrats blame mass immigration from “dysfunctional countries” for the crime wave.
They are pushing for stricter migration laws and the deportation of criminal migrants. Additionally, the party advocates for making it harder for parallel social structures to exist and for revoking the citizenship of dual nationals involved in gang crimes.
Charlie Weimers, a Sweden Democrat MEP, is working to raise the issue of migration-linked crime in the EU Parliament. This issue isn’t exclusive to Sweden, with similar violence erupting in Germany. For instance, an Afghan asylum seeker recently killed a two-year-old boy and a man in Germany, highlighting a broader crisis. However, the political establishment in Berlin seems more focused on keeping the far-right AfD party at bay.
In Sweden, Europol has been assisting the national police with the bombings, offering additional support during heightened tensions. Yet, the Sweden Democrats argue that the police’s hands are tied by “current legislation.” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson admitted that Sweden has yet to control the growing violence, which is targeting both citizens and businesses. It remains to be seen whether the situation will prompt stronger action from Swedish and EU leaders.
