The pre-dawn tranquility of Bredäng, a southwestern suburb of Stockholm, was shattered on Saturday, January 11th. A powerful explosion ripped through Bredängstorget, the heart of the neighborhood’s commercial center, just after 3:00 am. The blast, potent enough to rattle windows and jolt residents from their sleep, decimated a restaurant, scattering debris and glass shards across the square. While the material damage was extensive, miraculously, no physical injuries were reported. Numerous residents, startled awake by the force of the detonation, immediately contacted emergency services, triggering a swift response from police.
Amidst the wreckage and chaos, Vlado Radakovic, a local pizzeria owner whose establishment stood adjacent to the targeted restaurant, experienced the shock firsthand. Residing in the neighborhood, he was jolted awake by the massive explosion. His son, equally alarmed, quickly called to check on his father’s safety. Arriving at the scene later that morning, Radakovic was met with devastation. The police had cordoned off the area, delaying his access to his own business. Upon finally entering, he found his pizzeria in ruins – windows shattered, a television toppled, and walls and ceiling fractured from the sheer force of the blast. The explosion had even warped the doorway, shifting the entire wall by several centimeters.
The incident dealt a heavy blow to Radakovic, who was already facing the typical financial challenges of the early months of the year, a period often marked by slow business. However, despite the initial despair, Radakovic chose to confront the disaster head-on. Driven by the need to keep his business afloat and avoid financial ruin, he immediately contacted a glazier who arrived within an hour. Together with others, Radakovic began the arduous task of cleaning up the debris and repairing the damage. Remarkably, by 4:00 pm the same day, the pizzeria’s ovens were fired up and back in business, a testament to Radakovic’s resilience and determination.
The explosion not only caused physical damage but also sent waves of fear and anxiety through the community. Yet, amidst the apprehension, an outpouring of support emerged for Radakovic. Local Facebook groups buzzed with calls to patronize the pizzeria, offering financial assistance and encouragement. Customers arrived, some even purchasing pizzas without the intention of eating them, solely to contribute to Radakovic’s recovery. This wave of solidarity reaffirmed his faith in the community and bolstered his resolve to rebuild. Despite the fear and uncertainty, Radakovic remained optimistic, choosing to focus on the positive and expressing hope for the future.
The Bredäng explosion is unfortunately not an isolated incident. The Stockholm area has been plagued by a spate of explosions, marking a disturbing trend in the escalating wave of violence. Restaurants and businesses have been frequent targets, but perhaps more alarmingly, the doorways of residential buildings have also become a common focus. Just days after the Bredäng incident, another explosion rocked the typically peaceful neighborhood of Johanneshov in southern Stockholm. This blast, occurring just after 4:00 am on a Saturday, proved to be even more powerful, injuring two people and shattering windows in three apartment buildings.
Among the residents affected was actor Calle Stjernlöf, whose apartment was directly impacted. Awakened by the explosion, he found his bed covered in glass shards, thankfully mitigated by the drawn blinds. The chilling sound of a woman screaming brought home the gravity of the situation. Stepping onto his balcony to assess the damage, Stjernlöf initially mistook the scene for a fire before realizing the true nature of the incident. Emergency services quickly arrived, cordoning off the area and initially confining residents to their apartments. Hours later, residents were finally evacuated through a damaged stairwell and a back exit.
Two days later, the full impact of the experience began to sink in for Stjernlöf. The thought of his daughter potentially being present during the explosion filled him with a mixture of sadness and anger. The realization of the potential consequences, especially considering the many children and elderly residents in the building, heightened his emotional response. He expressed outrage at the blatant disregard for human life and the potential consequences of these violent acts. The incident served as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire of escalating violence, and the emotional toll it takes on individuals and communities. The ongoing repairs and boarded-up windows serve as visible scars, symbolic of the wider problem of violence plaguing the city.
