The incidents of gun violence across the European Union are the focus of a report published in the media outlet euronews.com, which ranks the worst and best cities on the continent.
However, the picture is complex, as drug gang violence spreads from Brussels to Stockholm, while some capitals continue to maintain relatively low levels of gun-related crime.
It is important to note that the ranking of gun violence is not based on a scientific study but on a combination of national statistics with media reports, adjusting the findings according to the population size of each city.
In many countries, police do not record gun-related crimes separately or fail to release detailed data, making comparisons difficult.
Police in Greece’s capital do not publish specific data on shootings, according to Euronews. However, local media have reported several serious incidents this year and last.
At least five people were killed in shootings last year, with around six separate incidents recorded. So far this year, at least two shooting incidents have been reported.
According to the piece, Brussels is the “capital” of gun violence, with violence related to criminal drug gangs escalating in the suburbs of Molenbeek and Anderlecht, which saw 57 shootings by mid-August.
The Swedish capital, Stockholm, once a paradigm of a serene and quiet city, has turned into a hotspot of gun-related violence, recording 55 shots and 9 victims until August 25th.
Sweden recorded 113 shooting incidents with 33 fatalities in 2025, a stark reversal from its earlier image of calm.
In the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, despite a relative drop in shootings, there has been a sharp rise in gang-related explosions.
In 2023, authorities recorded 197 blasts — double the number from the previous year. Shootings included seven serious incidents, one of them fatal.
Paris has seen fewer gun incidents than Marseille, but last year recorded 34 homicides, an increase compared with previous years.
Four fatal shootings were linked to drug gangs, while police forces were reinforced ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Lisbon has recorded serious gun crimes, including a triple murder, while Rome has seen eight known incidents over the past two years, many resembling mafia-style executions. In Madrid, local media report several drug-related shootings, leaving two people dead.
Finally, cities such as Berlin, Dublin, and Helsinki report low levels of gun crime.
Berlin has recorded only a handful of incidents, while Dublin is generally regarded as safe.
