A serious stabbing in Úlfarsárdalur, a residential district in Reykjavík, last week has shaken the public in a country long considered one of the safest in the world. A man sustained life-threatening injuries in what police describe as a personal dispute between two individuals. One suspect has been arrested. Local residents say they now feel unsafe walking alone in the neighborhood after the incident.
According to Icelandic authorities, the stabbing occurred in Úlfarsárdalur, a quiet residential area in Reykjavík. The victim, who has not been identified, was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. Police have confirmed that one person has been taken into custody. The motive is said to be a personal conflict.
“It’s strange that this kind of thing has come to Iceland…”
A local resident told RÚV that neighbors are increasingly worried about their safety due to the behavior of certain individuals in the area. Women, in particular, are reportedly afraid to walk alone at night:
“One of them was driving like a maniac up and down the street. At one point, there was a crash, followed by a fight where one person stabbed the other. Just the other day, there was gunfire. The children saw bloodstains on their way to school. Another time, a man armed with a machete broke down a door while screaming. It’s strange that this kind of thing is happening in Iceland, a country that has always been known for low crime,” he said, adding that people generally feel a growing sense of insecurity.
Police have not suggested that the incident is related to immigration, but the debate reflects growing polarization — even in Iceland. Authorities describe the Úlfarsárdalur stabbing as an “isolated incident” tied to a personal dispute, not evidence of a broader crime wave.
On social media, however, the attack is being linked to what some claim is a rise in violence associated with immigration.
“It’s surprising how little media attention the stabbing in Úlfarsárdalur received. It wasn’t even covered in the main evening news on Icelandic television. Sure, there was a brief mention, but the narrative was that the details were unclear. Is the trend now to ignore what’s happening in our society? To pretend the problem doesn’t exist?” asked former Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð on X:
Það var furðulegt hvað fréttin af sveðjuárásinni í Úlfarsárdal fékk litla athygli fjölmiðla í gær.
Stuttar fréttir á vefmiðlunum sem sögðu ekki mikið og féllu hratt niður síðurnar.Það var ekki einu sagt frá málinu í aðalfréttatíma Sjónvarpsins.
Að vísu birtist örfrétt (sjá að… pic.twitter.com/6VSMZuCO3Y— Sigmundur Davíð (@sigmundurdavid) May 22, 2025