STOCKHOLM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Of the 320 shootings that took place in Sweden in 2017, over one third of them happened in the capital city, Swedish Television reported on Friday.
Reports were that 43 shootings had deadly outcomes, and nearly all deadly shootings in Sweden could be linked to gang wars in the country's suburbs, areas that are marked by social exclusion.
"The ruthlessness has increased, with less consideration of the fact that third parties can be hurt," said Linda H Staaf at the police's national operations department.
A total of 120 took place in the Stockholm police region where 19 people were shot to death and 41 were injured. Narcotics played a role in the shootings, but many were revenge actions between rival gangs.
Addressing the media at a press conference on Friday, Staaf said the "wave of violence" seen last year had not declined and that the shootings would not end unless the police took new, harsher measures.
"Around 10 of the ongoing conflicts will likely lead to violence in the coming quarter. More than half of the conflicts have led to acts of violence in the past year, but just a few of the conflicts are currently at an intensive stage," said Staaf.
The police are hoping a forthcoming weapons amnesty between February and April will help reduce the violence in Sweden.
"The purpose of the amnesty is to reduce the number of illegal weapons in society. We know these weapons are often a requirement for severe crimes to be carried out," said the amnesty project leader Joakim Norenhag.
