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Nordstan in Gothenburg has made headlines as police admitted the shopping centre, which is Sweden’s largest, was overrun by migrant youth gangs who harassed girls, dealt drugs openly and intimidated police. One youth has been now charged with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed another teen in the neck during an altercation at the shopping centre. The fight erupted after the accused allegedly confronted the victim over stolen money. Following the incident, the youngster fled to a nearby harbour, where he was then allegedly struck with two iron bars.

EXPRESSEN • PH One thug has been charged after stabbing another youngster at Nordstan shopping centre

The charged teenager has disputed the claims as he insisted the victim has attacked him first. It comes as Gothenburg police over the weekend said they have been forced implement extraordinary measures to cope with the increased number of incidents.

Nordstan is Sweden’s largest shopping centre in terms of sales and number of visitors, however once the shops close at 8pm, criminal youth gangs take over despite officers turning out in force. Jonas Bergqvist, one of the team managers of the city police, told Expressen: “We have seen an increase since last autumn, with mostly unaccompanied minors who are staying here in North Town.

Migrant crisis: Key locations before and after Tue, April 4, 2017 In these composite images, a comparison has been made between a scene at a key location during the height of the 2015 migrant crisis last year and the view there now Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 10 Aid workers help migrants up the shore after making the crossing from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos on November 16, 2015 in Sikaminias, Greece

“In the evening they deal drugs and violence between fractions sometimes occur. If there are conflicts from their home countries, they bring them here.” While his colleague Rikard Sorensen added the thugs was experiencing increasing levels of increasingly more aggressive toward police. He said: “There is a lot of drugs circulating. I wouldn’t even let my son go down to North Town. “There is a risk of robbery, but also harassment of girls.”

PH The teenager claimed he pulled out the knife to defend himself