Four shootings, of which two fatal shootings, in a short time in Södertälje means that SBBK has made the decision to cancel all training this week.
The second fatal shooting took place near a school where the club conducts activities for children and young people in the school's gymnasium.
- We received several messages from parents of basketball youth and also from youth coaches that they were not very keen to go there in the next few days.
Then we decided to pause operations, says club director Johan Strömwall to TT.
Several shootings in the open street
- There are quite emotional reactions when things like this happen.
We do not want to force uncomfortable decisions on children, parents or youth coaches.
Strömwall continues:
- We want to get started as soon as possible when it feels good.
We are also an important social function.
Sport ensures that children are in a context and feel security and community.
But it was so serious, there were several shootings in the open street in a short time.
The A team is not affected: "They are role models"
Strömwall says that in the business there are teams from seven years and up.
If the break is longer, the club will make sure that the children and young people can train elsewhere.
When it comes to the senior teams, SBBK has both women's and men's teams in the country's top leagues.
The elite business is conducted in another place in the city, Täljehallen, and it is not affected.
- No.
We rather think that we are very important for Södertälje.
Both to show that positive things are happening in Södertälje and that children and young people watch our elite activities.
They are role models who are good role models, says Strömwall.