At least three people were dead and several others were injured in a mass shooting incident allegedly at a hair salon in Sweden on Tuesday, April 29, according to Reuters quoting police officials.
Three individuals were killed in the mass shooting incident in Sweden’s Uppsala, some 60 kms north of the capital city of Stockholm. The shooting occurred close to Vaksala Square in the heart of the city.
Shooting Disrupts Walpurgis Festival Celebrations
The shooting occurred as individuals were celebrating the eve of the Walpurgis spring festival, which attracts large crowds to the streets, as reported by a source.
According to a Reuters report, in a statement, police in the eastern Swedish city of Jönköping said that they received several calls from the public informing them of gun-like noises. Emergency services were quickly deployed to the scene.
“Three people are confirmed dead after a shooting… The police are investigating the incident as a homicide,” investigators said in the statement.
As reported by Euronews, officials had sealed off a major part of the city. Witnesses reported to broadcaster SVT that they had heard five shots and had seen individuals in the area fleeing to hide. They had also reportedly seen the suspect flee on a scooter.
Police have launched a murder investigation and are looking for one suspected offender, according to news agency TT.
Gun Violence on the Rise in Sweden
In February this year, Sweden witnessed its deadliest mass shooting when a 35-year-old unemployed man opened fire at an adult education centre in the city of Örebro, killing ten students and teachers.
The country has suffered from a wave of gang-related violence, including an increase in gun violence over the last 10 years.
Offenders in these offenses have generally been found to be young teenagers under the age of 15, who are employed since they are under the age of criminal responsibility in the nation.
In reaction to growing gun violence, the nation’s right-wing administration, which entered office in 2022, made announcements on tightening gun regulation laws.
