At a glance
Key figures — the most important numbers on this page
2025 (prel.)
621
Brå — reported incl. attempts
2025
189
Police — completed detonations
H1 2026
68
Police — vs 108 H1 2025 (−37 %)
1995
≈ 10/year
NFC retrospective
Peak years
3
2019, 2023, 2025
Parallel series
3
Brå, Police, NFC
What does the data show?
Objective observations — not interpretations
- Development over time: bombings have gone from a handful per year in the 1990s to hundreds per year 2019–2025. The level shift is unambiguous no matter which of the three parallel series (Brå, Police, NFC) you use.
- What is actually counted: Brå's series measures all reported bombing offences (chapter 13 of the penal code) including attempts. The Police series counts only completed detonations recorded in the operational situation picture. The difference is methodological — not a contradiction.
- Reasonable comparisons: change over time within the same series (e.g. Brå 2017→2025, or Police H1 2025→H1 2026). Comparison between Swedish regions/municipalities within the Police series.
- Comparisons that are not reasonable: comparing Brå annual values before and after 2017 head-to-head (the dedicated category was introduced in 2017), or mixing Brå and Police series across time.
- Reasonable conclusions: Sweden has a historically high level of bombings in a Western European perspective, clearly linked to organised crime. H1 2026 shows a clear downward trend break in the Police series (−37 %).
- Conclusions that cannot be drawn: that gang violence is 'solved' (one half-year is not enough), that the low 1990s numbers reflect fewer incidents (partly explained by the lack of a dedicated category), or that Sweden is unambiguously 'worst in the EU' — several EU countries do not report separately and cannot be compared at all.
Definitions
How the numbers are counted — and what they do not cover
- Bombing (Brå)
- Reported offence of 'endangerment by explosion' under chapter 13 §3 of the Swedish Penal Code. From 2017 there is a dedicated offence code; both completed detonations and attempts are counted as separate offences.Source: Brå statistical database, KRO codes 1305–1306.
- Bombing (Police)
- A completed detonation of an explosive charge that the Police have received via 112, technical bomb-squad assessment, or their own discovery. Attempts and 'ignition only' cases are excluded.Source: Police operational situation picture — published quarterly and half-yearly.
- Explosive (NFC)
- The National Forensic Centre classifies explosives by chemical composition (military, commercial, home-made). This classification underpins both Brå and Police registration.
- Reported ≠ confirmed offence
- A reported bombing offence is registered when the police receive a report. It says nothing about conviction — only that an event has been reported as a bombing. Around 5–8 % of reported bombing offences lead to a conviction (Brå 2024).
- Attempted bombing
- An act objectively aimed at a bombing but where the detonation does not complete — e.g. disassembled charge, technical failure, aborted attempt. Counted as a separate offence from 2017.
- Trend break
- A significant change in the trajectory that holds across at least two consecutive measurement periods. H1 2026 alone is too short to constitute a trend break — it is an indication that must be confirmed by H2 2026 and full-year 2027.
How to read this
Data in context
How to read this
The charts below show what the numbers say — not an interpretation. Where data point in different directions (e.g. stable trust but rising insecurity) we show both series rather than pick a narrative.
- 1995*NFC retrospektiv
- 2017*Egen kategori införs
- 2025*Brå — anmälda spräng-brott inkl. försök (prel.)
Sources per year: 1995–2016 NFC retrospective (no separate reporting in official statistics). 2017 → Brå 'Statistics on bombings' — reported offences incl. attempts (this series). The Swedish Police's narrower 'completed detonations' series is systematically lower (2023: 149, 2024: 136, 2025: 189 partial year) but follows the same trend.
How to read this chart
Definition
Reported bombing offences = endangerment by explosion (chapter 13 of the penal code) including attempts. 1995–2016 lack separate reporting in official statistics; values come from NFC's retrospective compilation. From 2017 there is a dedicated code in Brå's statistics.
Method
Annual values from Brå 'Statistics on bombings' (2026-03-04). Nordic comparison per 100,000 inhabitants uses national agencies' annual series / population as of 31 Dec. Note: Brå's series (this chart) and the Police's 'completed detonations' are different measurements and should not be mixed.
What the chart shows
- Low and stable level 1995–2010 (~10–30/year)
- Sharp rise from 2017 when a dedicated category is introduced
- Three peaks: 257 (2019), 392 (2023), 621 (2025 prel.)
- Downward turn in H1 2026 in the Police series
Limitations
- Before 2017 there is no dedicated category in Brå's statistics — the 1990s values are retrospective estimates.
- Police and Brå series measure different things; do not mix over time.
- Attempts have been counted separately since 2017 — this mechanically contributes to the level shift.
- EU comparisons are hampered because several countries do not report separately for organised-crime-linked bombings.
Where research shows strong associations, they are cited. Where the evidence is uncertain or contested, this is stated. The page draws no causal conclusion beyond what the data supports.
Deep-dive — Brå's official figures
Completed vs attempted
Reported bombing offences per year — total, completed, and attempts.
- Total (incl. attempts)
- Completed
- Attempts etc.
Share completed fell from 47% (2021) to 38% (2025). More attempts are stopped — but more offences are recorded overall.
Source: Brå — Statistics on bombings (2026-03-04).
Visa data som tabell
2021
- Total (incl. attempts)
- 175
- Completed
- 83
- Attempts etc.
- 92
- Share completed
- 47 %
2022
- Total (incl. attempts)
- 196
- Completed
- 89
- Attempts etc.
- 107
- Share completed
- 45 %
2023
- Total (incl. attempts)
- 392
- Completed
- 156
- Attempts etc.
- 236
- Share completed
- 40 %
2024
- Total (incl. attempts)
- 377
- Completed
- 152
- Attempts etc.
- 225
- Share completed
- 40 %
2025
- Total (incl. attempts)
- 621
- Completed
- 234
- Attempts etc.
- 387
- Share completed
- 38 %
| År | Total (incl. attempts) | Completed | Attempts etc. | Share completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 175 | 83 | 92 | 47 % |
| 2022 | 196 | 89 | 107 | 45 % |
| 2023 | 392 | 156 | 236 | 40 % |
| 2024 | 377 | 152 | 225 | 40 % |
| 2025 | 621 | 234 | 387 | 38 % |
Suspects for bombing offences — by age group
Number of persons suspected per year, stacked by age group.
- 15–20 yrs
- 21–29 yrs
- 30–49 yrs
- 50+ yrs
The 15–20 age group grew from 11 (2018) to 139 (2024) — now the largest single age band. 89% of all suspects in 2024 were men.
Source: Brå — Statistics on bombings, suspects (2026-03-04).
Visa data som tabell
2018
- 15–20 yrs
- 11
- 21–29 yrs
- 26
- 30–49 yrs
- 18
- 50+ yrs
- 3
- Σ
- 58
2019
- 15–20 yrs
- 38
- 21–29 yrs
- 51
- 30–49 yrs
- 32
- 50+ yrs
- 11
- Σ
- 132
2020
- 15–20 yrs
- 33
- 21–29 yrs
- 73
- 30–49 yrs
- 55
- 50+ yrs
- 11
- Σ
- 172
2021
- 15–20 yrs
- 29
- 21–29 yrs
- 51
- 30–49 yrs
- 50
- 50+ yrs
- 8
- Σ
- 138
2022
- 15–20 yrs
- 34
- 21–29 yrs
- 51
- 30–49 yrs
- 39
- 50+ yrs
- 8
- Σ
- 132
2023
- 15–20 yrs
- 113
- 21–29 yrs
- 104
- 30–49 yrs
- 75
- 50+ yrs
- 14
- Σ
- 306
2024
- 15–20 yrs
- 139
- 21–29 yrs
- 122
- 30–49 yrs
- 95
- 50+ yrs
- 17
- Σ
- 373
| År | 15–20 yrs | 21–29 yrs | 30–49 yrs | 50+ yrs | Σ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 11 | 26 | 18 | 3 | 58 |
| 2019 | 38 | 51 | 32 | 11 | 132 |
| 2020 | 33 | 73 | 55 | 11 | 172 |
| 2021 | 29 | 51 | 50 | 8 | 138 |
| 2022 | 34 | 51 | 39 | 8 | 132 |
| 2023 | 113 | 104 | 75 | 14 | 306 |
| 2024 | 139 | 122 | 95 | 17 | 373 |
Clearance rate
Share of handled bombing offences cleared with a reasonably suspected person.
- By explosion
- Completed
- Attempts
Clearance for completed bombing offences (22.8% in 2024) is well above the level for offences in general (≈ 12%).
Source: Brå — Statistics on bombings, handled offences (2026-03-04).
Visa data som tabell
2018
- By explosion
- 10.3 %
- Completed
- —
- Attempts
- —
2019
- By explosion
- 10.8 %
- Completed
- —
- Attempts
- —
2020
- By explosion
- 8.2 %
- Completed
- —
- Attempts
- —
2021
- By explosion
- 9.4 %
- Completed
- 11.1 %
- Attempts
- 3.1 %
2022
- By explosion
- 15.7 %
- Completed
- 18.8 %
- Attempts
- 14.0 %
2023
- By explosion
- 16.9 %
- Completed
- 20.5 %
- Attempts
- 14.2 %
2024
- By explosion
- 19.6 %
- Completed
- 22.8 %
- Attempts
- 17.8 %
| År | By explosion | Completed | Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 10.3 % | — | — |
| 2019 | 10.8 % | — | — |
| 2020 | 8.2 % | — | — |
| 2021 | 9.4 % | 11.1 % | 3.1 % |
| 2022 | 15.7 % | 18.8 % | 14.0 % |
| 2023 | 16.9 % | 20.5 % | 14.2 % |
| 2024 | 19.6 % | 22.8 % | 17.8 % |
Convicted bombing offences
Number of convicted offences per year, split by normal and aggravated grade.
- Normal grade
- Aggravated
Aggravated offences grew from 7 to 63 between 2023 and 2024. Average sentences for normal-grade rose from 33 to 50 months; aggravated grade averaged 78 months in 2024.
Source: Brå — Statistics on bombings, convictions (2026-03-04).
Visa data som tabell
2018
- Normal grade
- 6
- Aggravated
- 0
- Σ
- 6
2019
- Normal grade
- 10
- Aggravated
- 0
- Σ
- 10
2020
- Normal grade
- 16
- Aggravated
- 5
- Σ
- 21
2021
- Normal grade
- 44
- Aggravated
- 1
- Σ
- 45
2022
- Normal grade
- 19
- Aggravated
- 2
- Σ
- 21
2023
- Normal grade
- 62
- Aggravated
- 7
- Σ
- 69
2024
- Normal grade
- 76
- Aggravated
- 63
- Σ
- 139
| År | Normal grade | Aggravated | Σ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2019 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2020 | 16 | 5 | 21 |
| 2021 | 44 | 1 | 45 |
| 2022 | 19 | 2 | 21 |
| 2023 | 62 | 7 | 69 |
| 2024 | 76 | 63 | 139 |
The Nordics — same metric
Bombings per 100,000 inhabitants — Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland. Note: the SE series is Brå's broad 'reported incl. attempts'; NO/DK/FI report narrower categories (completed detonations / bombings linked to organised crime). Do not compare levels directly.
2015–2025 · /100k · Norden
| År | Norge | Danmark | Finland | Sverige |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 015 | 0,05 | 0,08 | 0,04 | 0,55 |
| 2 017 | 0,06 | 0,1 | 0,05 | 1,13 |
| 2 019 | 0,07 | 0,18 | 0,05 | 2,51 |
| 2 021 | 0,06 | 0,3 | 0,04 | 1,69 |
| 2 023 | 0,07 | 0,42 | 0,05 | 3,72 |
| 2 024 | 0,07 | 0,38 | 0,05 | 3,55 |
| 2 025 | 0,06 | 0,32 | 0,05 | 5,85 |
Source:
How to read this chart
Definition
Bombings per 100,000 inhabitants — Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland.
Method
SE = Brå's 'reported bombings incl. attempts' / population. NO/DK/FI = national agency series (completed detonations or organised-crime-linked bombings).
What the chart shows
- Sweden is clearly highest in the Nordics.
- The gap to Norway and Finland has grown 2015–2024.
- Denmark has risen gradually from 2019 but remains far below Sweden.
Limitations
- The SE series is broader than the others; levels are not directly comparable.
- Registration differs — compare change over time rather than absolute level.
Where research shows strong associations, they are cited. Where the evidence is uncertain or contested, this is stated. The page draws no causal conclusion beyond what the data supports.
Human consequence
Persona
A family in an apartment block in a mid-sized Swedish city.
Then
- Slept with windows open in summer.
- Let children play outside the stairwell unsupervised.
- Paid standard home insurance with no area surcharge.
Now
- Wakes to police helicopters or blasts once or twice a quarter.
- Stairwells have steel-reinforced doors and cameras.
- Insurance premiums rose after a bombing in the neighbouring block.
How does it look in your municipality?
Bombing statistics are broken down by police region and municipality. Open the municipality tool to see the level where you live.
Dataset
Brå — reported bombings incl. attempts 1995–2025 (Sweden)
- N:
- 31 observations
- Last updated:
- 2026-03-04
1995–2016 = NFC retrospective. 2017–2025 = Brå official code. 2025 preliminary.
Primary sources
Agencies and research institutions behind this page
4
agencies/institutions
4
reports & studies
3
primary datasets
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to what is most often discussed
Related topics
Logical next steps if you want to understand the background
2035
If the 2015–2025 trend continues, how many reported bombing offences will Brå record in 2035?
A linear extrapolation of the last decade of Brå's series points to ≈ 800–1,100 reported bombing offences (incl. attempts) per year by 2035. This is a mechanical projection, not a forecast. Actual outcomes in H1 2026 point downward: 68 completed detonations (Police) vs 108 in H1 2025 (−37 %) — a clear slowdown compared with the 2025 peak (189 completed detonations / 621 reported incl. attempts).
Sources for this page
The data comes from official primary sources.
Brå · Annually
Anmälda brottAnmälda brott
Latest data point · Source published
Read the full investigation of how Sweden has changed.
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