Sweden was hit by a wave of deadly violence this weekend. In less than 24 hours, a female ambulance worker was killed on duty in Nordanstig, while fatal shootings took place in both Stockholm and Norrköping.
Ambulance call turns deadly
Late Saturday morning, police received an emergency alarm from an ambulance crew in Nordanstig, 300 kilometres north of Stockholm. A female paramedic had been attacked with a sharp object while responding to a call.
She was rushed to hospital but did not survive. A 25-year-old man was arrested shortly afterward at a nearby home and is now in custody on suspicion of murder.
“This has deeply affected us as an employer, and our thoughts go out to her family,” said Susanna Björklund, deputy director of health and nursing in the region.
The case has raised sharp criticism from the Ambulance Association. Federal secretary Henrik Johansson argues that the paramedic should never have been sent to the suspect’s address in the first place.
“Based on the information we have, this was an address that should not have received an ambulance call-out. A colleague has lost her life unnecessarily,” Johansson said, calling for better systems to flag dangerous locations.
According to union surveys, ambulance staff report facing more threats and violence in recent years. The Healthcare Federation has urged both employers and the government to step up preventive measures.
Gun violence continues
The same evening, violence struck again in southern Stockholm. At 7 p.m., police received reports of gunfire in Hagsätra. A 45-year-old man was found critically injured and airlifted to hospital, but he later died. A murder investigation has been opened, though no arrests have been made.
Just an hour earlier, police in Norrköping had been called to the Ektorp district after witnesses heard gunshots. A man in his 30s was found gravely wounded outdoors. Despite emergency treatment, he died in hospital. Police have launched a murder inquiry and are investigating possible links to organized crime, but no suspects have been detained.
A weekend of fear
By Sunday morning, investigators were still piecing together the string of violent incidents. Police confirmed they were also responding to reports of an explosion in the Spånga area of western Stockholm, underscoring how widespread the violence has become.
Sweden has seen a steady escalation of gang-related shootings and bombings in recent years. But the killing of a paramedic on duty has rattled both emergency services and the wider public, highlighting the risks faced not only by police but by medical professionals simply trying to save lives.