A 16-year-old boy, now in custody for a shocking triple homicide in Uppsala, Sweden, had been on the radar of social services for years, according to newly surfaced reports in Swedish media.
The teen, reportedly of Somali background, has been entangled in a web of crime, drugs, and violent influences since childhood—raising troubling questions about how authorities handled repeated red flags.
Leaked documents obtained by Expressen paint a grim picture. Social workers had long flagged concerns over the teen’s environment, pointing to his circle of friends tied to drug offenses and violent behavior. His home life didn’t offer much stability either—his father had racked up prison time and was linked to khat use and suspected domestic abuse.
Authorities had tried intervention. Therapy sessions were offered. Drug tests were recommended. But despite efforts, the situation spiraled. In an attempt to turn things around, his mother relocated the family to Somalia last year, hoping that distance and cultural reset might shake him out of his downward spiral.
It didn’t last. After nine months abroad, the teen returned to Sweden in February—and promptly resumed contact with his old crowd. Within weeks, he found himself at the center of multiple investigations: drug-related offenses, violations of Sweden’s Knife Act, and suspicious financial activity.
Officials decided he should be taken into mandatory state custody, but that step came too late. Just three weeks ago, the teen escaped from the youth facility where he was placed. Authorities caught up to him only after the triple murder. When arrested, he was reportedly at his family’s home, frantically trying to scrub away evidence—literally—by soaking his clothes in bleach.
The brutality of the crime has reignited national debates over youth crime and migration policy. Reacting to the case, MEP Alice Teodorescu Måwe of the Christian Democrats didn’t hold back. Posting on X, she said Sweden must “plainly and clearly expel more criminals who threaten the safety and freedoms of law-abiding citizens.”
As the investigation unfolds, the focus is turning not just to the suspect, but also to the missed warnings—and the cost of failing to act in time.
