Three people have been killed in a shooting at a hair salon in the heart of Uppsala, a city north of Stockholm, Sweden.
The attack took place at Vaksala Square, where the gunman opened fire inside the salon before fleeing the scene on a scooter, local police confirmed.
According to a report by the BBC published on 30 April, the suspect remains at large.
The shooting occurred just ahead of Sweden’s traditional Walpurgis spring festival, sending shockwaves through the community and drawing large crowds into the streets moments after the incident.
Local media reported that the police cordoned off a wide area around the scene and have launched a full-scale investigation.
A police helicopter has been deployed, and train services in the vicinity were temporarily suspended to prevent the suspect’s escape.
Witnesses described the scene as unfolding with alarming speed. One eyewitness told Sweden’s TV4: “Everything happened so fast.” Another said she was cooking at home when she heard two loud bangs resembling fireworks. “I was terrified. I rushed outside and soon after, the police and ambulances arrived, shutting down the road and urging people to leave the area.”
Swedish national broadcaster SVT reported that one of the victims may be related to a known gang leader and that the attack could have been a targeted assault.
An investigation is also underway into possible connections between the victims and ongoing criminal activities.
Police spokesperson Magnus Jansson Klarin told TV4 that a significant effort is underway to apprehend the assailant, with officers conducting door-to-door interviews to gather further evidence from eyewitnesses.
The incident comes amid rising concern over the surge in gun violence and gang-related attacks in Sweden.
In February this year, a separate shooting at an adult education centre in Örebro left 10 people dead.
