Three people killed in shooting in Sweden

Local police in Sweden have confirmed that on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, three people were killed in a shooting in the Swedish city of Uppsala.

The shooting reportedly took place at a hair salon close to Vaksala Square in the centre of the city, local media reported.

According to media reports, the incident took place around 5 p.m.the shooter.

Eye witness report and local police say the shooter, who was said to be masked, fled on a scooter, is still on the run.

Officers have reportedly cordoned off a large area and a murder investigation is ongoing.

However, local police have reportedly not identified the victims or established a motive.

Authorities have stated there is currently no evidence suggesting the incident is related to terrorism or a hate crime.

The incident, according to the BBC, happened at 5.30pm local time, on the eve of the Walpurgis spring festival, which brings large crowds onto the streets of Uppsala.

Uppsala is a city located north of the capital Stockholm, and known for its university.

“Everything happened so fast. It just went bang, bang, bang,” a witness told a local television station in Sweden.

Another man said he was cooking at home when he heard “two bangs that sounded a bit like fireworks” going off outside on the street.

He told Swedish television he was “very surprised and scared”.

According to him, shortly after “swarms of police and ambulances” started blocking off the street and telling people to move back.

One of the victims was being investigated over an alleged planned attack against a relative of a gang leader, Swedish national broadcaster SVT reported.

There has been increasing concern over the number of shootings and gang attacks in recent years in Sweden.

The government in reaction to this, has said it wants to tighten the country’s gun laws.

A police spokesman Magnus Jansson Klarin, told a local TV station in Sweden that a major effort is under way to find the shooter, with a police helicopter joining in the search.

Train services had been stopped in the area to stop the perpetrator using them to get away, Mr Klarin said, but they have now resumed.

Police officers have been going door-to-door to seek further witness information.

Meanwhile Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer described the incident to the TV station as a “brutal act of violence”.

Strömmer condemned the violent act, noting its gravity, particularly as it occurred on the eve of Valborg, a major Swedish spring festival.

In an update on their website, Swedish police acknowledged “concern among the public” ahead of the upcoming Walpurgis celebrations.

However, their initial assessment is that this was an “isolated incident” and there is “no danger to the public”.

In February, 10 people were killed in a shooting at an adult education centre in the Swedish town of Orebro.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook