Swedish police have detained a 12-year-old boy suspected of committing a contract murder for 250,000 Swedish kronor (approximately €23,000), which resulted in the death of a 21-year-old man. The incident occurred in Malmö.
According to police reports, the boy shot at a car where the victim was seated with friends. The victim was found in the back seat and transported to a hospital where he later died.
Investigators indicate that the boy, who is not a resident of Malmö, arrived in the city specifically to carry out the contract killing. He was promised 250,000 Swedish kronor (about £20,000) for the act, though police state that the intended target was another person in the car.
Since the suspect is below the age of 15, he cannot be held without a legal representative. Court documents show he has been transferred to custody with the appointment of such a representative.
Sweden has one of the highest rates of youth involvement in street gangs among European Union countries. In 2023, the nation recorded 363 shootings, resulting in 55 fatalities—a figure that surpasses those of Finland, Denmark, and Iceland combined during the same period. The country’s population is approximately 10.5 million.
The boy has become Sweden’s youngest suspect accused of a shooting that led to death.
