The incident occurred when four boys were playing spontaneous football at a field used by Stuvsta IF. According to a mother of one of the children, three teenagers aged 15 to 16 approached them, talked, played, and asked personal questions. The teenagers threw coins and told the children to pick them up, while filming and photographing the eight-year-olds.
The mother said the teenagers used foul language, and the children later asked about the meaning of words they had heard. The children perceived the teenagers as fun and nice, and they planned to meet again, possibly to receive AirPods. The mother believes the incident may have been a gang recruitment attempt.
My son was not affected and did not think the teenagers were gang criminals because they didn't have two phones.
Municipal police officer Anna Schelin finds the information credible and says the incident sounds like a textbook example of a recruitment attempt. Police have increased their presence in the area, but resources are strained due to a recent fatal shooting of a teenage boy at a football field in Vårby gård. Police suspect gang recruitment and have increased presence.
Police inspector Reine Berglund says such incidents are seen almost daily in various areas. According to TV4 Nyheterna, Reine Berglund advised parents to verify suspicious gifts, not find logical explanations for illogical behavior, be physically present, build close relationships, and set boundaries. Robert Axén, head of Stuvsta IF, stated that no organized activities were taking place at the time; children were playing spontaneous football.
We were shocked and immediately informed members and guardians.
According to TV4 Nyheterna, Robert Axén described that the club was shocked and immediately informed members and guardians. The club has increased adult presence and cooperation with police and field assistants. Stuvsta IF has increased cooperation with police and the municipality, and will inform and educate leaders and parents.
According to TV4 Nyheterna, Robert Axén described that it is important that adults are curious about who is around the sports fields and ask questions. Mikael Eriksson, father of one of the eight-year-olds, said his son was not affected and did not think the teenagers were gang criminals because they didn't have two phones. The teenagers asked the children if they were criminals.
It is important that adults are curious about who is around the sports fields and ask questions.
After parents discussed the incident, they realized the seriousness and were shocked and worried. In a separate incident, children at a preschool in Huddinge were contacted by teenagers who offered money in exchange for services and threatened them. The preschool sent a message to guardians stating that two children were contacted by three young teenagers over the fence, which worried the children.
The preschool's principal said they take the children's experiences very seriously and have reported the incident to the police. The preschool has increased staff presence in the yard, especially near gates and fences, and the municipality is conducting extra patrols. Parents expressed great concern and believe the municipality should have acted earlier, with some fearing this was another recruitment attempt following the sports field incident.
We see such incidents almost daily in various areas.
Parents should verify suspicious gifts, not find logical explanations for illogical behavior, be physically present, build close relationships, and set boundaries.