Late Thursday, one of Sweden's most prominent rappers was shot dead in Stockholm, escalating indignation over gang-related violence in the Nordic country in recent years.

Einar, whose real name was Nils Gronberg, was assassinated in the affluent Stockholm district of Hammarby Sjostad, with no arrests made so yet. Einar was kidnapped and attacked by rival rappers in a prior incident last year.

"A young life has been extinguished, and I understand that he meant a lot to many young people. It is tragic," Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told TT, Sweden's national media.

Gronberg, who made his debut at 16, issued four albums, had tens of millions of streams on music platforms, and won several Swedish Grammys and other awards.

He was kidnapped and beaten up by rival rappers with links to a Swedish crime group last year. Several persons were sentenced to prison for their roles in the kidnapping, including Yasin Byn, another of Sweden's most popular rappers.

The major opposition party's law and order spokesperson, Johan Forsell, said it was time to put an end to gang violence in Sweden.

"The limits of what can be accepted in a civilized country have been passed a very long time ago," he wrote on Twitter. "We need action not words to turn the tide and get Sweden in order."