Three people have died following a shooting at a hair salon near Vaksala Square in central Uppsala, Sweden, authorities have confirmed. The attacker, who fled the scene on a scooter, remains at large.
The shooting, which occurred just ahead of the Walpurgis spring festival—a major event drawing crowds to the city—prompted a swift response from law enforcement. A large section of the area was cordoned off, and a murder investigation is underway.
Witnesses described hearing rapid gunfire and seeing emergency responders flood the scene. One of the victims was reportedly under investigation for a planned attack against a relative of a known gang leader, according to Swedish broadcaster SVT.
Police have deployed a helicopter and gone door-to-door in their search for the suspect. Although concerns have been raised about public safety during the upcoming festivities, authorities have described the attack as an isolated incident.
Sweden has faced a surge in gun violence and gang-related crimes in recent years. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the shooting a “brutal act of violence” and emphasized the government’s intention to tighten gun laws.
