Two British citizens were discovered shot dead in a burned-out car in Sweden, in a case that police are now treating as a double murder.
Firefighters were called to a blaze on a dirt road in the Fosie industrial estate in Malmö on Sunday, where they found the bodies. It is believed the victims had rented a car at Copenhagen Kastrup airport before being found in Malmö, just across the Danish border.
Local reports suggest the victims were shot before the car was set alight. The identities of the deceased have not yet been disclosed, but police officials indicated they have an idea of who they are.
Authorities are now conducting a manhunt, questioning several individuals, and fear that more violence could follow. They have not ruled out a connection to gang violence.
Photos show forensic officers investigating the scene, moving plastic bags from inside the car, and working to confirm the identities of the victims. Authorities are reportedly collaborating with Interpol on the investigation.
The bodies will undergo forensic examination this week as police aim to confirm their identities and notify next of kin. Rickard Lundqvist, press spokesperson for police region South, confirmed the investigation but stated there are no suspects at present. He also noted that the victims were not Danish, as the car had Danish registration.
Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet reported that the victims were British, and police confirmed they are working with foreign police on the case. They are seeking information from anyone who may have seen the burned-out car, a black Danish-registered Toyota RAV4, between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 14.
Kerstin Gossé, spokesperson for the Swedish Police Authority, said they are working hard on the investigation to clarify the events. The car has been impounded, and several people will be questioned soon.
Police have cordoned off the scene and are conducting a crime scene investigation. The victims were last seen traveling past the Öresund Bridge toll station on Sunday afternoon.
Authorities are cautious about speculating on the motive behind the attack. Gossé said, "We have to keep everything open. It is nothing that I can speculate on this early in the investigation."
Sweden has seen a rise in violent crime, with the number of murders increasing by 39% between 2013 and 2021. Sixty people were shot in Sweden in 2022, marking a tragic record in modern times. Malmö, the country's third-largest city, had the fourth highest count behind Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Västerås.
The UK government continues to issue travel advisories for Sweden, noting the occurrence of violent crime, including gang-related incidents such as knife crime, shootings, and explosions, particularly in Malmö, Stockholm, and Gothenburg. Photo by AleWi, Wikimedia commons.