Violent Gang War Erupts in Södertälje, Three Fatal Shootings Reported in One Week
In autumn 2022, a violent gang war erupted in Södertälje, resulting in a large number of shootings in a short period of time. Three of these shootings were fatal within a single week.
The conflict between the two criminal groups, the Ronnaphalangen and the Saltskogphalangen, intensified late that year with five open street shootings in just two weeks. The conflict has led to several murders, the worst of which occurred when a 41-year-old was killed in the district of Ronna on October 1.
According to the police, the murder of the 41-year-old was intended as revenge for a murder the day before when a young man connected to one group was shot dead in the same district. However, it is believed that the man who was shot was not the intended target. The shooter apparently made a mistake and killed an innocent person.
Relatives and friends of the man expressed shock over the incident, with some reporting that they initially believed it was a bad joke when they heard about the murder.
Following the fatal shootings, hundreds of Södertälje residents gathered for a demonstration against the violence. Boel Godner, the chairman of the municipal board in Södertälje, described the past weeks as Södertälje’s “black weeks.”
Although the outward situation in the city has calmed, there have been no fatal shootings in Södertälje this year. The trial for the murder of the 41-year-old is set to begin soon, and 13 individuals have been charged in connection with the case.
The Södertälje network has a history of organized crime, and the recent escalation of violence has brought back memories of a high-profile trial in 2012 where several individuals associated with the network were sentenced to life imprisonment.
It remains to be seen how the city will address the underlying issues that contribute to the violent conflicts that have plagued the community.