Einar: Swedish rapper shot dead in Stockholm street in suspected gang-related attack

An award-winning Swedish rapper has died at the age of 19 after being shot in the street in a suspected gang-related attack.

Einar, whose real name was Nils Gronberg, was reportedly shot in the head and chest, in the suburb of Hammarby Sjostad, in Stockholm, on Thursday.

Police are believed to be hunting two suspects, although no arrests have been made.

Tributes quickly poured in for the teenager, who had won a number of Swedish Grammys and also had tens of millions of streams on different music platforms.

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said: "A young life has been extinguished, and I understand that he meant a lot to many young people. It is tragic."

Music producer Trobi also said in a tribute: "Einar was a real brother to me and I will miss him so much.

"We just released our first record last week and it feels so strange since I spoke to him just a day ago."

Artist VC Barre also shared a video of him rapping and dancing with Einar, which was captioned: "This is this morning. Rest in peace my fine brother."

Einar released four albums after becoming famous when his breakthrough single Katten i Trakten (The Cat in the Area) reached number one in the Swedish singles chart when he was 16.

His songs often referenced a life of crime, including mentions of drugs and weapons.

He also had several convictions for assault, drug offences and drink-driving.

Last April, Einar was kidnapped, beaten up and blackmailed for three million Swedish krona (£250,000) by members of a gang.

They were reported to have used a rival rapper, Khalil, to lure him to a flat where he was then attacked.

Only weeks earlier, the same gang had tried to kidnap Einar at a Stockholm music studio by using another rapper, Yasin.

However, they were unsuccessful.

Khalil was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in July this year for aiding and abetting a kidnapping.

Yasin was also given a 10 month term for conspiracy to kidnap.

Both have denied the charges and are appealing.

Following his kidnapping ordeal, Einar told his followers on Instagram: "Everyone out there can be kidnapped, everyone out there can be beaten.

"I feel good, I am alive and no one can do what I do so I will continue what I do as long as I stand on my feet."

Sweden, which has a population of just 10.3 million, now has one of Europe's highest rates of gun crime.

At least 40 people have been killed in 273 shootings this year, after 47 were killed in 2020.

Johan Forsell, law and order spokesperson for the main Moderates opposition party, called for an end to gang violence.

He wrote on Twitter: "The limits of what can be accepted in a civilized country have been passed a very long time ago.

"We need action not words to turn the tide and get Sweden in order."