Shooting at a mosque in Sweden leaves one fatally wounded and another hurt
In Örebro, Sweden, on August 15, 2025, a tragic incident occurred near a mosque as people were leaving after Friday prayers. A man around 25 years old was shot dead, and another individual was wounded. The police have linked this incident to local organized crime networks, describing it as an isolated event not specifically targeting the mosque itself but connected to feuding criminal gangs [1][2][3].
The attacker, a 35-year-old man, is believed to have shot ten people at an adult education center prior to the mosque incident, before turning the gun on himself [1]. This violent act has once again highlighted Sweden's ongoing struggles with organized crime violence.
Sweden, once known for its low crime rates, has seen a rise in gang-related violence in recent years. The country had the third-highest gun murder rate in Europe in 2022, according to Statista [2]. Police claim that gang leaders are increasingly based abroad, controlling criminal activities from there [1]. The increase in organized crime violence is believed to be due in part to the influence of these criminal gangs based abroad.
The shooting attack in Örebro in February 2023 was one of the deadliest incidents of organized crime violence in Sweden in recent years, resulting in eleven deaths [1]. The city of Örebro gained notoriety due to this shooting.
Authorities have actively pursued the shooter in the recent mosque incident, conducting witness interviews and performing technical investigations. The investigation covers attempted murder, which was upgraded to murder after the death, and aggravated weapons offenses [1][2]. The police have urged the public to avoid the area for safety, and Örebro municipality has activated crisis support efforts to assist the community [1][2].
The police spokespersons and local media emphasize the importance of seeing the Örebro mosque shooting as a crime-network related isolated act, with no credible indication this was an attack on the mosque or religious community [1][2][3]. The sources also underline that this shooting fits a pattern of violence involving organized crime disputes rather than religious or ideological motives [1][2][3].
Sweden's ongoing challenges with criminal networks impacting local violence, including southwest Örebro, are emphasized by the sources [1][2]. Criminal gangs in Sweden are active in drug and weapons trafficking, with shootings and bombings occurring regularly [1].
In summary, the Örebro mosque shooting is connected to organized crime rivalries typical of Sweden’s rising gang-related violence, marking an isolated but serious event amid recent crime concerns [1][2][3]. The community and authorities are working together to address this issue and support those affected by these tragic events.
- Despite the tragic mosque shooting in Örebro, Sweden, being linked to local organized crime networks, it's crucial to recognize that this is an isolated event unrelated to the mosque or religious community.
- Sweden's ongoing struggles with gang-related violence, as seen in the rise of shootings and bombings in southwest Örebro, have roots in criminal gangs' increasing influence, some of which are based abroad.
