Icelandic teens are choosing violence
30 August 2024
The rise in weapon carrying, particularly knives, among Icelandic youth is becoming a growing concern for authorities and the public alike. Police figures reveal a troubling increase in violent acts by young people, with serious crimes committed by those between 13 and 15 having quadrupled over the past decade. The issue gained attention following a stabbing in Reykjavik last weekend, involving three victims and a perpetrator, all under 18.
While we have reported on the spillover effect of gang-related crimes from Sweden into neighbouring countries, Iceland's situation appears different. According to Dr. Margrét Valdimarsdóttir, a criminologist, said youth violence in Iceland is rarely tied to organised crime. Instead, it is more about escalating tensions between teenage groups, where the use of weapons instead of words is becoming increasingly normalised.
A survey conducted by Dr. Valdimarsdóttir and her team asked Icelandic teens between 13 and 16 why they carry weapons. The majority cited self-defence, with very few intending to use them against others. In June, the Icelandic government launched an action plan to combat violence against children, coinciding with a report from the national commissioner detailing the status and challenges of youth violence.
However, academics emphasise that government actions alone are not enough. The real heavy lifting comes from schools and families, who play a crucial role in curbing the surge in violence and weapon carrying among young people.
 | Axel Helgi Ívarsson For a country that is considered one of the safest in the world, this development is a particular shock to the system. Some residents experience that especially the centre of Reykjavik has become more dangerous due to the escalation of violence and the normalisation of weapons in recent years. In schools, more students have been caught carrying knives for protection. However, according to the police's conversations with teenagers, tracing the origin of this "knife wave" is difficult, as the word just seems to spread around that "everyone else carries one these days, therefore so must I, just in case." |
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