Explosive Violence in Context: A Comparison of Incidents Involving Explosives in the Netherlands and Sweden

Following the recent rise of incidents involving explosives in the Netherlands and Sweden, this comparative study provides a qualitative, mainly descriptive analysis of the phenomenon of explosive attacks in both countries. Based on twenty-five interviews with police professionals, the analysis identifies important similarities and differences between the two countries. Perpetrators, motives, targets, and organizational methods are largely comparable. In particular, the findings highlight the high willingness of youngsters and the correspondingly large pool of potential executors for such attacks. The prime motive is generally to convey a message, whereas the predominant targets were dwellings. The findings further underscore the key role of social media and digital platforms in the recruitment, planning, communication, and coordination of attacks. Notable differences concern the underlying conflicts: in the Netherlands, attacks are driven by both criminal and social conflicts; in Sweden, they are primarily linked to organized crime and local gangs. Furthermore, in the Netherlands, it is predominantly professional fireworks that are used as explosives, while a wider variety of explosive materials is employed in Sweden. This comparative study contributes to the emerging literature by providing valuable insights into explosive incidents and identifying avenues for future research.