A Swedish schoolboy has been arrested in Australia after allegedly attempting to hire hitmen to carry out contract killings in Europe.
The 15-year-old – who cannot be identified because of his age – is said to have offered one assassin £15,600 and a gun to commit a murder in Denmark.
He had been sent to live with extended family in Australia late last year after he fell in with a violent criminal gang involved in drug dealing in Scandinavia.
Australian Federal Police (AFP), who arrested him during an early morning raid in Sydney on Wednesday, suspect the teenager of recruiting the hitmen through an encrypted messaging device.
They swooped after receiving intelligence from their Danish counterparts of a foreign national living in Australia who was allegedly linked to attempts to organise contract killings in Europe.
The Swedish citizen was charged with two counts of ‘using a device connected to a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence’: one count related to ‘murder’ and the other to ‘conspiracy to murder’.
Both offences carry a possible life sentence, according to the police statement, even though there were no confirmed deaths as a result of his actions.
Officers will now carry out forensic examination of all his electronic devices after seizing them during the raid.
The 15-year-old – who cannot be identified because of his age – is said to have offered one assassin £15,600 and a gun to commit a murder in Denmark
Australian Federal Police (AFP), who arrested him during an early morning raid in Sydney on Wednesday, suspect the teenager of recruiting the hitmen through an encrypted messaging device
Officers will now carry out forensic examination of all his electronic devices after seizing them during the raid
Despite staying on a quiet suburban street, social media photos show the boy ‘trying to cultivate a gangster image’ through jewellery and designer clothes.
Months before he arrived in Australia, in mid-last year, the boy posed in front of an Audi sports car and threw gang signs, according to social media photos first seen by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Lars Feldt-Rasmussen, deputy chief superintendent of Denmark’s National Special Crime Unit, said: ‘While in Australia, the young man is suspected of having attempted to recruit people to commit contract killings in Denmark and Sweden as part of ongoing gang conflicts in the Nordic region.
‘This case highlights our collaborative and effective international police cooperation and shows that we are united in our fight against cross-border crime.’
Sweden is in the midst of a wave of gang violence, according to a briefing from the European Parliament in February.
‘In January 2025 alone, there were approximately 30 gang-related explosions reported in the country, often in residential areas and mostly concentrated in the capital Stockholm,’ they said.
Teenagers are often recruited by criminals to carry out attacks – including bombings and contract murders – on rivals.
Sweden is in the midst of a wave of gang violence, according to a briefing from the European Parliament in February
Teenagers are often recruited by criminals to carry out attacks – including bombings and contract murders – on rivals
It is thought that they target minors for recruitment because of the difficulty for prosecutors to secure convictions on very young offenders.
Brett James from the AFP, said: ‘The AFP regularly works with foreign policing partners, such as the Danish Police, and the identification of these alleged international criminal links is a testament to the enduring partnership and collaboration between our agencies.
‘If you think you can use geography to evade law enforcement, you’re mistaken – the AFP and its partners are always watching, sharing intelligence and ready to apprehend those who wish to harm our communities.’
The teenager, who was refused bail at his hearing at Surry Hills Children’s Court, will reappear before the same court on June 11.
