Expert suggests Aalborg shooting may be contract killing linked to gang conflict

A 15-year-old Swedish boy charged with attempted murder after firing at least nine shots at a tattoo shop in Aalborg, Denmark, may have been acting as a hired hitman in an ongoing gang conflict, a criminology expert tells Danish broadcaster DR.

Police believe the Tuesday shooting on Bispensgade street is connected to tensions between the Comanches MC motorcycle club and the outlawed Loyal to Familia gang. No injuries were reported.

David Sausdal, a criminologist at Lund University, said the case bears hallmarks of contract killings, where young Swedes are increasingly recruited to carry out violent crimes in Denmark.

“We’ve unfortunately seen similar cases in recent years, where very young Swedes travel to Denmark to commit contract killings,” Sausdal told DR. While not yet confirmed, he noted that “many of the typical signs of contract crime are present here.”

The boy, now in custody, allegedly crossed into Denmark to carry out the attack before returning to Sweden—a pattern Sausdal said aligns with previous cases involving so-called “child soldiers” in gang warfare.

North Jutland Police have not confirmed a motive but are investigating whether the shooting was a paid hit, with the teen potentially working with accomplices. The theory emerged during a preliminary court hearing at Aalborg District Court on Wednesday.

Sausdal warned that criminal networks like Sweden’s Foxtrot—linked to multiple murders—are increasingly outsourcing extreme violence to young freelance criminals. “What’s new is that these are young people being brought in to commit the worst acts of violence, including murder,” he said. “I fear we’ll see this again and again.”

The expert added that vulnerable youths, often with histories of abuse, institutional care, or prior criminal involvement, are frequently targeted by gangs through grooming tactics—manipulative relationships where adults exploit minors for illegal acts.