The Old Country Newsletter – Välkommen till 2026!

After Holiday Killings, Sweden Reopens the Debate on How to Handle High-Risk Offenders

Two brutal murders over the Christmas holidays have reignited a national debate in Sweden about public safety, psychiatric care, and whether dangerous individuals are being released too early.

Sweden is reeling after two women were killed in separate incidents during the Christmas period – one in her home in the northern city of Boden, the other after disappearing while on her way home to family in Rönninge outside Stockholm. Police suspect murder in both cases, and details emerging about the alleged perpetrators have intensified public scrutiny. According to media reports, one suspect had previously been convicted of attempted abduction and assessed as having a high risk of reoffending, while the other had been discharged from compulsory psychiatric care just days before the killing.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the events an “unspeakable sorrow,” saying the cases have shaken public confidence and renewed fears, particularly among women. Without commenting on the individual investigations, Strömmer argued that Sweden has for too long prioritized the rights of offenders over public safety, allowing people deemed dangerous to return to society prematurely.

The killings have added urgency to a series of legal reforms set to take effect in 2026. From January, inmates assessed as having a high risk of serious reoffending will no longer be eligible for early release. Later in the year, Sweden plans to introduce a new sanction known as “security detention,” allowing courts to confine particularly dangerous offenders for an indefinite period – even if they do not meet the criteria for compulsory psychiatric care.

The proposals have drawn support beyond the governing coalition. Opposition figures agree tougher measures may be necessary, but some also argue the system is failing to identify who should receive psychiatric treatment in the first place. Critics note that offenders sentenced to forensic psychiatric care tend to reoffend far less often, suggesting prevention – not just punishment – remains a missing piece.

As vigils are held and questions mount, the cases have become a stark reminder that behind legal frameworks and policy debates are lives that might have been saved.

Read more about the two appaling tragedies here:

• The Murder in Rönninge

• The Murder in Boden

While many Swedes were on Christmas break, the weather refused to take time off. Over the past two weeks, back-to-back storms delivered hurricane-force winds, heavy snowfall, widespread power outages, and major travel disruptions across large parts of the country.

The most disruptive event was Storm Johannes, which tore through Sweden with winds reaching hurricane strength in the mountains, peaking at over 40 meters per second. Roofs were ripped off buildings, iconic bridges like the High Coast Bridge were temporarily closed, and tens of thousands of households lost power—some for days. At its worst, more than 40,000 homes were without electricity, particularly in Gävleborg, Västernorrland, Jämtland, and Härjedalen. Fallen trees knocked out power lines and blocked roads, prompting authorities to issue rare public alerts urging people to stay indoors and avoid travel altogether. Three people were killed after being struck by falling trees.

Just as the winds eased, winter doubled down. A new system, storm Anna, brought intense snowfall and renewed warnings, dumping up to half a meter of snow along parts of the Norrland coast and creating severe drifting snow further south. Train routes were shut down, ferries were canceled, and road conditions remained treacherous well into the New Year. Thousands were still without electricity as crews struggled to make repairs in dangerous conditions.

The chaos has also reignited criticism of Sweden’s power grid resilience. Despite a legal limit of 24 hours for outages, thousands of customers exceeded that threshold, raising questions about maintenance and preparedness for storms that are no longer rare exceptions.

As January begins, conditions are finally stabilizing – but the holiday stretch has left a clear message: Sweden’s winters are sometimes rougher, and the margin for error is shrinking.