Sweden: Rival gangs of 10-year-olds issue death threats

Rival gangs of 10-year-olds in the eastern town of Söderhamn have threatened to wipe each other out. One of the gangs is made up of indigenous Swedes and the other of immigrants, and police in the town are taking the problem very seriously.

The conflict has escalated on the internet, and police fear that there may be fatalities if the fighting is not stopped.

"I reckon it has got worse in recent years. There are a total of 20 to 30 children in these gangs.

"Then they call in reinforcements when things start to heat up," police spokesman Lasse Melin told newspaper Hälsinge Kuriren.

In his opinion the indigenous Swedish children have been influenced by racist sentiments in their homes.

"Children don't become racists if they haven't learned it from their parents," said Melin.

Police now plan to work with schools and the local council to tackle the problem.

Lasse Melin intends first to take the two groups aside speak to them individually.

"Then we can bring them together and ask why they can't look at each other without getting into a fight," said Melin.

Source: The Local (English)