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Swedish police shift strategy amid youth recruitment for bombings

Crime & justiceCrime
Key Points
  • Swedish police are changing strategy to stop youth recruitment by criminals after recent bombings in Stockholm.
  • Assistant National Police Commissioner Stefan Hector says perpetrators are getting younger due to lower risks and costs.
  • Police cite factors like cheaper recruitment of teens for simpler bombings and reduced prosecution risks compared to contract killings.

Several explosions have occurred in the Stockholm area recently. The Swedish police are shifting their strategy to prevent young people from being recruited by criminals. Assistant National Police Commissioner Stefan Hector says the perpetrators are getting younger.

He states that several circumstances are behind the shift from deadly violence to bombings. According to Hector, this may be due to risks, as perpetrators risk themselves or their families facing revenge, contract killings cost more, and the risk of prosecution is greater. The economy could also be a reason why perpetrators are younger.

The perpetrators are getting younger.

Stefan Hector, Assistant National Police Commissioner

The police believe simpler tasks like bombings do not require the same capacity and can be advertised for smaller sums. Hector says it is cheaper with a 14-year-old than a 20-year-old because it is an easier task, and for throwing a hand grenade or placing a thermos bomb, a relatively young person suffices.

Several circumstances are behind the shift from deadly violence to bombings.

Stefan Hector, Assistant National Police Commissioner

This may be due to risks, as perpetrators risk themselves or their families facing revenge, contract killings cost more, and the risk of prosecution is greater.

Stefan Hector, Assistant National Police Commissioner

It is cheaper with a 14-year-old than a 20-year-old because it is an easier task, and for throwing a hand grenade or placing a thermos bomb, a relatively young person suffices.

Stefan Hector, Assistant National Police Commissioner

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