Knowing the gangs: a tale of two explosions

By: Märta Bonde

As the war between gang criminals spirals and gun violence surges, inside sources are crucial for Swedish newsrooms. Ahmed Abdigadir is one of few investigative reporters with vast insight into the gangs.

Stockholm, Tuesday morning. Ahmed Abdigadir arrived at the site when everyone else did. Scared residents, glass on the ground, and reporters everywhere. The night to Tuesday offered two explosions in apartment buildings on different sides of the city. The first in Farsta, a suburb frequently subjected to gang violence. The second on Lidingö: one of Stockholm’s wealthiest areas.

“I knew they had to be linked as soon as I heard the news,” Abdigadir says.

When reporting on day-to-day activities such as explosions and shootings, Ahmed admits it is difficult to silence his investigative urge. His first instinct when reporting is to uncover information from the inside. Something he did the same morning:

“I could quickly confirm the connection from one of my sources.”

Ahmed Abdigadir’s wide network of sources within the gangs has been crucial to his career. As an intern at Svenska Dagbladet, he began working on the investigation “Spotify and the Gang Money,” uncovering how gangs have used the streaming giant as a money laundering platform.

Working in a team with Erik Wisterberg and Frida Svensson, Ahmed’s insight into Stockholm’s suburban environment filled a knowledge gap desperately needed. He also proved to have a way of earning trust among sources and earned a spot on the investigative team.

Illustration: Liv Widell / SvD

The investigation touched a significant weak spot in Swedish society. One of its biggest entrepreneurial prides: Spotify, funding one of Sweden’s biggest societal issues: gang crime. Something that has earned the investigation a Guldspaden nomination.

“I’ve had to work very hard. Answering calls from drugged-up gang members in the middle of the night and moving around in uncomfortable settings is not always great. But it has paid off, I guess.”

Reporting on gang crime became especially important for newsrooms as the war within the gangs erupted, with dreadful consequences for Ahmed’s hometown, Stockholm.

Raised in Husby in a Swedish-Somali household, Abdigadir says he will always be another type of journalist. Back in journalism school, when he deliberately opted out of university in favor of regular college, hoping to escape the white middle class. Something he seemingly couldn’t avoid.

“The school was full of them. I understood I was one of the very few. It’s the same here, at Svenskan [SvD].” He laughs as he looks over the newsroom.

“I joke with my coworkers a lot about it. I think they find it funny. And now I’m middle class as well!”

When asked about the nomination and the prestige it brings, he sighs.

“I know it comes with prestige. But what I take pride in is being the first Swedish-Somali who might win. When we talk about Swedish-Somali journalists, we will talk about me. And that feels incredible.”

But being the only one must come with downsides. What does Ahmed think about the press coverage on gang crime and the suburb?

“I’m too enshrined in mainstream media now. If newspapers report falsely on gang crime and the suburb, I’m a part of it.”

But still, it does affect him.

“This morning, when I knew the explosions were linked and wanted to go to Farsta, my editor said no. I had to go to Lidingö, since it’s more newsworthy when it happens in a rich area. That’s frustrating.”

This time, his instinct was proven right, strengthening his advice to young investigative journalists: do your thing and trust your knowledge.

The following night, another explosion occurred in Farsta resulting in 10 more wounded.