The trial of the 22-year-old man suspected of shooting three young men to death at a hair salon in Uppsala opened with a dramatic scene. The mother of 15-year-old victim Aiham screamed her anger at the accused and spat in front of him. The incident is described as one of the worst crimes in the city's history.
The trial began on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in Uppsala District Court against a 22-year-old man charged with three counts of murder and two attempted murders. The incident occurred in April 2025 at a hair salon on Vaksala Square, where three young men—15-year-old Aiham, a 16-year-old, and a 20-year-old—were shot dead. Prosecutor Andreas Nyberg described the victims as huddled on the floor and shot in the head in what resembled an execution.
Three other young men are suspected of involvement in various ways, and all were recruited via social media for a commissioned job, though no commissioner has been identified. Two people were shot outside the salon but survived, and the intended target escaped unharmed.
During the proceedings, Aiham's mother Sanabel broke down in tears as the victims were presented. She turned to the accused 22-year-old and screamed: “Fucking idiots, you killed my only son.” According to TT, the accused laughed in response, after which Sanabel spat in front of him. She was escorted out by security guards, collapsed, and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The family wore buttons with Aiham's image during the trial.
The 22-year-old denies the charges. The prosecutor has not been able to establish the motive behind the shootings of the three victims or the two who were fired upon.
