205 victims of crime after bombings in Gothenburg

Published 28 October 2024 at 17.33

Domestic. Now charges are brought against a 19-year-old for three completed bombings in Västra Frölunda in Gothenburg in January and March this year. Another teenager is charged with aiding and abetting two of the crimes.

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After a series of explosions in southwest Gothenburg during the first quarter of the year, two teenagers are now on trial .

– Our opinion is that these acts have been carried out in a gang environment. The detonations have been powerful and it is only coincidence that no one has died or been seriously injured, says investigative leader Stefan Olofsson.

The first explosion occurred at the entrance to a terraced house in Önnered in Västra Frölunda on January 6 this year. The material damage to the home was extensive and nearby houses were also damaged by the explosion. An early hypothesis during the police investigation was that the intended target of the explosion was a relative of the residents of the affected property.

Exactly two months later, on March 6, further explosions occurred at two nearby properties on Södra Dragspelsgatan in Western Frölunda. Here, too, extensive damage occurred to the properties, and some of the residents were also physically injured.

When the police compared the two investigations, it became clear that there were common denominators. Already after the first explosion, the police became interested in a 19-year-old man who appeared in the investigation. After the explosions in March, he became of great interest to the police and was arrested. He was suspected of being the one who carried out the detonations and could be linked to all the explosions through testimonies and surveillance material. Another person of the same age was also arrested.

– What stands out and really needs to be underlined is the large number of plaintiffs who were injured or exposed to significant risks. In total, there are 205 victims of crime who have been affected in various ways by these acts of violence, says Stefan Olofsson in a statement.

The 19-year-old who is suspected of being the perpetrator is charged with aggravated destruction of public property, a serious violation of the Act on flammable and explosive goods in three cases and assault in two cases. It concerns an African who needs an interpreter in English.

His same-age crony, a 19-year-old stateless Arab, is charged with aiding and abetting two of the explosions.

The trial in the Gothenburg District Court begins on November 6.