Several bombings occurred in southwest Gothenburg at the beginning of this year, and now two foreign teenagers have been charged as suspects of the crimes that police said 205 victims.
The 19-year-old African, Kadus Tadesse, was charged with three bombings that dated from January and March. He requires a translator. In addition, 19-year-old Ali Abdulkalk, an Arab migrant, was charged in two of the bombings.
“What stands out and really needs to be emphasized is the large number of plaintiffs who have been injured or exposed to significant risks. In total, it is about 205 crime victims who have been affected in various ways by these acts of violence,” said investigator Stefan Olofsson in a statement released by the Swedish police.
In this case, an explosion occurred at an entrance to a terraced house in Västra Frölunda on Jan. 6, which caused significant damage to the house and nearby homes. The target was apparently relatives of a rival gang member.
Two months later, on March 6, two more explosives were detonated at nearby properties. In those two blasts, a number of residents suffered physical injuries.
The main suspect, Tadesse, was linked to all the explosions through testimonies and surveillance material.
“Our opinion is that these acts have been carried out in a gang environment. The detonations were powerful and it is only coincidence that no one has died or been seriously injured,” said investigator Stefan Olofsson in a statement.
Foreign organized clans and crime gangs have plagued Sweden over the last decade. Three out of four murders are committed by foreigners, according to government data. In addition, In 2018 alone, 162 bomb blasts rocked the country — almost one every two days.
