Swedish PM summons Army Chief as gang violence surges

Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, has summoned the head of the armed forces to address a surge in gang-related killings.

In a rare televised address, Swedish PM Kristersson vowed to “hunt the gangs down” and defeat them. The armed forces chief, Micael Byden, expressed readiness to assist the police in combatting the issue.

While it’s unclear how the military might be involved, previous discussions have suggested they could take over certain policing duties, allowing the police to focus on crime-fighting.

Critics argue that these measures address symptoms rather than root causes of the violence. This surge in gang violence, linked to the Foxtrot network, has resulted in 12 deaths this month, the highest since December 2019.

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Factors contributing to the violence include poor immigrant integration, income inequality, and drug use. Despite efforts, the government has struggled to curb the violence, leading to discussions about more surveillance, tougher penalties for gun law violations, stronger deportation powers, and stop-and-search zones.