Three people have been killed in a shooting at a hair salon near Vaksala Square in the Swedish City of Uppsala on Monday, police confirmed, in what officials have described as a “brutal act of violence.”
The suspect fled the scene on a scooter and remains at large.
The deadly attack took place just hours before the city’s annual Walpurgis spring festival, a celebration that draws thousands into the streets. Authorities have cordoned off a large area around the scene and launched a murder investigation, intensifying efforts to track down the perpetrator.
“Everything happened so fast. It just went bang, bang, bang,” one witness told Swedish broadcaster TV4. Another man, who was cooking at home when he heard the shots, said they sounded like fireworks before swarms of police and ambulances flooded the area, warning residents to move back.
A police helicopter has joined the manhunt, and officers have been conducting door-to-door inquiries to gather more information. Train services were briefly halted to prevent the suspect’s escape but have since resumed, according to police spokesperson Magnus Jansson Klarin.
Swedish national broadcaster SVT reported that one of the victims had been under investigation for allegedly planning an attack against a relative of a gang leader, raising concerns about potential gang-related motives.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer condemned the shooting as a “brutal act of violence” in a statement to TV4, while Swedish police acknowledged public concern ahead of the Walpurgis festivities. However, authorities said their preliminary assessment is that the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no immediate danger to the wider public.
The incident adds to a growing list of violent crimes in Sweden, where gang-related shootings have been on the rise. In response, the government has pledged to tighten gun laws and boost law enforcement resources.
In February, 10 people were killed in a separate shooting at an adult education center in Örebro, further fueling the national debate on gun violence and public safety.
Police continue to urge anyone with information about the Uppsala shooting to come forward.
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