Child Suspected in Malmö Explosion Escorted Home by Police

Residents in the Bellevuegården area of Malmö alerted authorities on Wednesday evening after hearing several loud explosions. Upon arrival, police discovered that two explosive devices had detonated near a residential building, resulting in visible damage to the entrance and an outdoor area.

Soon after, police encountered a boy under the age of 15 at a separate location. Following an initial conversation, officers suspected the child had been involved in the detonation incident. Swedish law dictates that minors below the age of criminal responsibility cannot be formally charged, and the police must involve social services in such cases.

The boy, who does not reside in Malmö but in another municipality within Scania, fell under the jurisdiction of social authorities in Helsingborg. However, according to reports, representatives from the responsible social services did not arrive to take custody of the child. As a result, the police transported the boy to his legal guardians following the incident. Authorities emphasized that, typically, cooperation with social services operates smoothly, but in this instance, no social worker was dispatched to handle the situation on-site.

In cases involving minors suspected of criminal activity, police primarily assist social services with their investigations, as only social authorities have the mandate to determine appropriate interventions or support measures for children in such circumstances. The police cannot formally notify or charge children below the legal threshold for criminal responsibility.

A second suspect, a man in his mid-twenties, was arrested on Thursday in connection to the explosions. He is suspected of assisting in the act of public endangerment, violating legislation concerning explosive and flammable substances, and involving a minor in criminal activities.

The explosion in Bellevuegården follows a string of violent incidents in Malmö in recent weeks. On the day before this incident, an explosion occurred at a multi-family building in Rosengård. Earlier that week, the national bomb squad responded to a live device found in the Erikslust district, and in the previous week, two individuals were injured in a shooting in Jägersro villastad.

While authorities have not established a direct connection between these incidents, current information suggests links to ongoing conflicts involving organized crime in the city. Police note that although not all recent events are directly related, they appear to be part of a broader pattern of criminal activity associated with several separate but concurrent conflicts affecting Malmö.

Social services in Helsingborg, which are responsible for eleven municipalities in northwest Scania, declined to comment on specific cases but stated that decisions regarding the placement of minors outside their homes are made based on individual assessments. If a child's guardians are deemed capable of ensuring the child's safety, authorities may decide against placing the child in a care facility.

The recent spate of violent acts, including explosions and shootings, has heightened concerns about the influence of organized crime in Malmö and the involvement of increasingly younger individuals in such activities. Authorities continue to investigate the incidents and assess potential connections between various cases as efforts to address the underlying criminal conflicts in the region intensify.