A shooting near a mosque in Sweden leaves 1 dead, police say

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BERLIN (AP) — A shooting near a mosque in central Sweden on Friday left one person dead and one injured and police said they believe it was linked to gang violence.

The shooting took place in the parking lot outside the mosque in the central city of Örebro in the early afternoon following Friday prayers, police said. The victim was a 25-year-old man who was shot dead leaving the mosque, and the man injured was also in his 20s.

Many emergency services were at the scene, and police advised the public to stay away.

Roberto Eid Forest, head of the Örebro police, said at a press conference that at least one perpetrator was seen leaving the scene.

The police are now investigating murder, attempted murder and aggravated weapons offenses, according to the Swedisn news agency TT.

For years, Sweden has grappled with gang violence, and criminal gangs often recruit teenagers in socially disadvantaged immigrant neighborhoods to carry out hits.

Local TV news channel TV4 said there has been tension between two rival gangs in Örebro recently.