This article contains mentions of graphic violence.

Netflix's newest show, The Breakthrough, is a crime miniseries based on a true story of a double murder that occurred on October 19, 2004. The Breakthrough covers a shocking double murder that goes unsolved for 16 years before a significant development with DNA testing finally nails the culprit of this heinous crime. Netflix's true crime shows are generally big hits, and The Breakthrough is no different, immediately stepping into Netflix's top 10 TV shows upon its release.

The victims of this tragic double murder were 8-year-old Mohammed Ammouri and 56-year-old Anna-Lena Svensson, portrayed in the show as Adnan (Marley Norstad) and Gunilla (Anna Azcárate). The Breakthrough is another excellent true crime TV show that explores the double murder, the heartbreaking aftermath, and the lengths detectives were willing to go to in order to find and arrest the suspect. The Breakthrough is a Swedish show, given that this crime occurred in Linköping, Sweden. However, Netflix provides English subtitles and voice dubbing.

Netflix's The Breakthrough Is Based On A 2021 Novel About A Real Double Murder In Sweden

The Breakthrough: How The Genealogist Solved The Double Murder In Linköping By Anna Bodin & Peter Sjölund

Netflix's The Breakthrough is based on the book by journalist Anna Boden and genealogist Peter Sjölund. Boden and Sjölund recount the journey from the tragic incident to effectively establishing a suspect 16 years later. Oskar Söderlund, who wrote the screenplay for Netflix's adaptation, was inspired by "strong human destinies behind this massive murder investigation" (via Netflix). This double murder was eventually solved because people refused to give up, from the detectives on the case to the victims' relatives begging for answers to the genealogist who changed the game.

What Really Happened To Mohammed Ammouri & Anna-Lena Svensson

Mohammed Ammouri & Anna-Lena Svensson Were Stabbed To Death

On October 19, 2004, an unknown assailant (later discovered to be Daniel Nyqvist) fatally stabbed Mohammed Ammouri, an 8-year-old boy. A witness, 56-year-old Anna-Lena Svensson, intervened, leading Nyqvist to fatally stab her as well. However, the case quickly became cold because there were no substantial leads to establish a motivation or a suspect. However, investigators did not give up, and in January 2019, they implemented a new method that involved utilizing ancestral DNA. After over a year of hard work, Daniel Nyqvist was finally arrested on June 9, 2020, after investigators had effectively discovered him through his ancestral DNA.

There was a second witness who was able to provide the authorities with a description of the suspect. Police also gathered evidence at the crime scene, including the suspect's hat, the murder weapon, and DNA. Detectives eventually released two sketches of the suspect—one in 2010 and another in 2018—which led to hundreds of tips. Furthermore, investigators also established that the suspect most likely had mental health issues, but other theories were tossed around as well by a crime professor, Leif GW Persson, and a TV show host, Hasse Aro.

How Much Of The Breakthrough Actually Happened?

The Investigation Had A Much Slower Trajectory In Real Life

According to Netflix, The Breakthrough is a fictionalized version of what actually happened to Mohammed Ammouri and Anna-Lena Svensson. Netflix's adaptation got several elements right—Svensson was initially a witness, but after intervening upon seeing the killer stab Ammouri, he moved to attack her as well (via Dagens Nyheter). The culprit, Daniel Nyqvist, endured mental health issues and decided to attack because he heard voices in his head. Other similarities in Netflix's The Breakthrough also occurred in real life, such as the countless tips, a composite sketch of the killer, and the use of ancestral DNA.

Furthermore, the witness did not have trouble recalling what the culprit looked like; they immediately ed that he was a young man in his twenties with blond hair.

However, Netflix altered some of the events in their adaptation. The killer's DNA that detectives had retrieved was initially much more helpful than The Breakthrough suggests—investigators determined through the DNA sample that the suspect was a smoker from Northern Europe (via RTÉ). Furthermore, the witness did not have trouble recalling what the culprit looked like; they immediately ed that he was a young man in his twenties with blond hair. Another significant difference between Netflix's The Breakthrough and the real-life crime involves the timeline of the investigation.

In The Breakthrough, the sketch of the killer was released within the first few months after the incident, but in reality, Swedish police only released a sketch in 2010, six years after the double murder. Furthermore, The Breakthrough depicts legal issues regarding using ancestral DNA, but these issues did not actually occur. In reality, investigators got started as soon as legislation made it possible to use genealogy websites in January 2019. The process took over a year rather than a few hectic, high-pressure days. However, Netflix raising the stakes to provide a more thrilling narrative in The Breakthrough makes sense.

Source: Netflix, Dagens Nyheter, RTÉ,