A 17-year-old has been convicted of throwing a hand grenade into a villa in Västerhaninge. The explosion killed one of the family’s dogs and put the residents’ lives in danger. He was also convicted for attempting to start a fire in a shop in Järfälla two days earlier. These crimes correspond to a prison sentence of 10.5 years, but – despite previous criminal activity – the penalty is capped at youth detention.

At 05:27 am on March 15, a hand grenade was thrown through a window into a villa on Lugnetvägen in Västerhaninge. The grenade detonated in the living room where the family’s two dogs were.

Both dogs were seriously injured. One of them died later the same day from its injuries. The two adult residents of the house were at home at the time but escaped without physical harm.

According to the district court, the explosion was life-threatening. The hand grenade detonated in a residential house with people inside, and the court concluded that Ayub was at least indifferent to the risk of the residents being killed.

The family living in the villa told police during interviews that they were not aware of any threats against them.

Was in State Care When Offense Committed

At the time of the crimes, he was in state care under LVU and placed in a foster home in Sundbyberg. However, he was able to easily leave to commit the crimes for which he has now been convicted.

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There was no confession. Instead, the verdict is based on a comprehensive technical investigation. The district court points, among other things, to the mobile phone’s movements, connections to cell towers, taxi rides to and from the crime scenes, and surveillance footage that together place Ayub at both the arson attempt and the explosion. The court sees no reasonable alternative explanation for the evidence.

Made a Mockery of Police Interviews

During police interviews, he complicated proceedings by giving evasive and irrelevant answers. Among other things, he claimed to have a poor memory, commented on the interviewer’s appearance by saying they had “nice eyes,” laughed, and responded “no comment” to questions.

Arson Attack on Shop Two Days Earlier

Two days before the explosion, Ayub, according to the verdict, broke into a mobile phone shop in Kallhäll by smashing a window. Inside, he poured flammable liquid and set fire before leaving the scene.

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The fire spread quickly but never became self-sustaining and was extinguished before it could spread to the rest of the building, which also contained residences. The district court therefore classifies the act as attempted arson, not completed arson.

10.5 Years in Prison – But Receives Youth Detention

Södertörn District Court convicts Ayub Jafar Sharif Alnaseree, 17, of attempted murder, aggravated public destruction, and attempted arson.

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Throughout the investigation, he has denied the crimes and claimed that he neither was at the crime scenes nor carried out the offenses. The court, however, finds the technical evidence convincing, linking him to both crimes.

The district court assesses that the total criminality warrants a penalty equivalent to about ten and a half years in prison. Since Alnaseree was 17 when the crimes were committed, the sentence is reduced according to the rules for young offenders.

The punishment is thus set at two years and four months in secure youth detention. He must also pay over 480,000 kronor in damages to the victims.

Furthermore, Alnaseree cannot be deported as he was born in Sweden.

Parents Exempt from Liability for Damages

Alnaseree denied all the offenses and opposed the claims for compensation. His guardians objected to being held jointly liable.

They argued that since their son was under LVU care, they had not been able to exercise parental responsibility. The court accepted this reasoning and did not hold the parents liable for damages.

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