Swedish criminal gangs are expanding their activities to Iceland, Iceland’s Justice Minister claims

Runólfur Þórhallsson, assistant superintendent at the Analytical Department of the Icelandic Police, revealed that the perpetrators had traveled to Iceland specifically to carry out the act. “We have confirmed information about a group of people who came here for this purpose,” he said, adding that the attack was orchestrated by a criminal organization via cyberspace.

At the meeting of Nordic justice ministers, Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgard discussed how criminal networks are increasingly operating online and offering illegal work across borders. In this case, Icelandic authorities believe that the order for the arson came from the Kronogård Gang based in Trollhättan, Sweden. Although linked to Sweden, the gang’s leadership is multinational and consists mainly of Palestinian citizens.

“Therefore, it may be unfair to say that this comes from Sweden. This activity involves people of different nationalities and it happens all around us,” Thorhallsson explained, warning against simplistically labelling the crime as purely Swedish in origin.

Þórhallsson revealed that the Kronogård gang is just one of many foreign criminal gangs trying to establish a presence in Iceland. In total, there are said to be 15 to 18 organized crime groups operating in the country. However, legally defining these groups remains a challenge. The National Court has a narrow interpretation of what constitutes an organized crime group, making prosecution and law enforcement more complex.

Despite reports of cooperation between criminal groups in Iceland, Þórhallsson warned that tensions could arise. “Since 2021, there have been reports from the National Police Commissioner indicating fears of a possible conflict between these groups. Although we have not seen a significant trend in that direction, it is something we need to be vigilant about. There are brutal gang wars taking place in neighbouring countries,” he said.

In response to these growing concerns, Hafsteinsdóttir announced plans to tighten border control and increase law enforcement resources. Þórhallsson praised these efforts, but called for more proactive policing and stressed the need for improved technical capabilities.

The ministerial meeting also addressed the exploitation of minors by criminal gangs, a growing problem in the Nordic region. Þórhallsson confirmed that Iceland is not immune to this trend. Children, especially those with refugee status, are increasingly being recruited by gangs for theft and other criminal activities.

“There have been cases where children, especially around shopping malls, have been used for petty theft. Although we have not yet seen confirmed cases of more serious crimes, it is a worrying sign,” he noted. In contrast, in countries such as Sweden and Denmark, there is much more serious exploitation, with minors often committing serious crimes.