Underage suspects released after shooting in Sweden

Three minors arrested in relation to a shooting in the south of Sweden that left several injured have been released.

Public prosecutor Johan Eriksson decided to release the three suspects on Thursday afternoon, according to his office.

Based on what has come out of the investigation so far, there are no longer sufficient grounds to detain them. However, the suspicion against them remains, Eriksson told several Swedish media.

An elderly woman and two younger men were seriously injured in the shooting near a shopping centre in the small town of Kristianstad in southern Sweden on Tuesday.

The three male teenagers had been arrested later that evening on suspicion of three counts of attempted murder. According to investigators, they are under 18 years old, but over 15 and therefore of legal age to commit a crime.

Kristianstad is located in the southern Swedish region of Skane and just under 100 kilometres northeast of Malmo. The crime is suspected to be gang-related.

Big problem with gangs

Sweden has long had a problem with acts of violence between rival gangs, especially in the big cities, but also in many smaller places.

On Thursday there was another incident in Linkoping, about 300 kilometres to the north, where police reported that shots were fired in the evening. According to media reports, two people were injured.

According to the newspaper Expressen, they are two younger men who are now in hospital with very serious injuries.