Sweden shooting: 2 dead in Gothenburg restaurant attack

At least two people were killed in a restaurant shooting in the Swedish city of Gothenburg on Wednesday in what police say was likely to be a gang-related shooting.

Several others have been injured in the attack. Swedish media reported Gothenburg police as saying that the dead are believed to be male and in their early twenties.

Up to 15 others were injured in the attack and three are believed to be in a serious condition at Sahlgrenska Hospital.

According to a police website, several perpetrators opened fire with automatic weapons and left the scene in a car.

Spokesman Bjor Blixter said there were known gang members inside the restaurant in the suburb of Biskopsgarden. He added the shooting spree was likely to be related to gang feuds.

Witnesses said patrons were watching the Champions League match between Barcelona and Manchester City at the restaurant when the attackers struck. The gunmen are believed to have been armed with an automatic weapon, thought to be AK47s.

Aftonbladet quoted one witness as saying that two men wearing skull masks and armed with automatic weapons came into the restaurant. One stood by the door to make sure no-one could get out before shooting "wildly" at those in the restaurant.

Police said there was no indication that the shooting in Sweden’s second biggest city was terror-related.

"There's absolutely nothing suggesting this would have anything to do with terrorism," police spokeswoman Ulla Brehm said.

Brehm said the area on Hisingen, an island off Gothenburg, had seen a lot of gang violence and that was a likely explanation for the shooting.

“We have had a targeted police operation in this area because we have gang crime here. There has been shootings in the past,” Brehm said.

Additional reporting: Agencies