Is the Netflix Series THE BREAKTHROUGH based on a true story? Yes, it is. It closely mirrors the real events while also being a work of fiction. Read up on the Swedish true crime case that revolutionized DNA technology in criminal investigations and inspired the 2025 Swedish series on Netflix.
The true story behind the Netflix series The Breakthrough is nothing less than a Swedish true crime sensation. In fact, it’s a piece of European investigative history. It was the first time DNA was used in this new way to solve a case.
The Netflix series The Breakthrough, released in January 2025, is based on a real Swedish murder case. Or rather, the series is based on one of Sweden’s most mysterious double murders.
The series focuses on the investigation. One that, unfortunately, went on for a very long time with very few leads. Key to solving the case was a combination of modern DNA technology and traditional genealogy. Combined, it solved the 16-year-old murder case.
The Breakthrough Netflix true story: Murders that shook Sweden
On October 19, 2004, the small Swedish town of Linköping was struck by tragedy. The eight-year-old Mohamed Ammouri and 56-year-old Anna-Lena Svensson were brutally killed with a butterfly knife.
The murders sent shockwaves through the community. However, despite massive police efforts, the killer remained unknown for 16 years.
While police did have the killer’s DNA, it doesn’t do much good when there’s no match in the databases. And without any obvious motive for the double murders, the homicide detectives had nothing real to work with.
The investigation ultimately included no less than 7,000 interviews, 13,000 tips, and 5,000 DNA tests. Unfortunately, all without results. It wasn’t until 2020 that the breakthrough came when Swedish police began working with genealogist Peter Sjölund.
The Breakthrough: Genealogy and DNA Tracing
Peter Sjölund used advanced DNA searching in international databases and combined this with traditional genealogy. In other words, going through church registers and death notices. With the help of the Swedish police supercomputers, he traced DNA back to families from the 18th and 19th centuries.
THE REAL GENEALOGIST
The Netflix series’ genealogist is based on Peter Sjölund – see his website here >
The research ultimately resulted in the identification of two brothers, one of whom, Daniel Nyqvist, was identified as the killer. The DNA result was confirmed when DNA from a hair in the killer’s hat was directly compared with DNA from Daniel Nyquist.
Daniel Nyqvist was arrested on June 9, 2020, and quickly confessed to the murders.
After 16 years without any real progress, the police now had both physical DNA evidence and a confession. It quickly became clear that this double murderer was a loner. He had lived isolated and unnoticed in Linköping since committing the two murders one October morning in 2004.
From the Golden State Killer to the Linköping murders
The case of Daniel Nyqvist is an example of how modern technology can crack even the most stubborn mysteries. There were no leads left for the police to work on. After all, DNA doesn’t help much when you have nothing to compare it to.
A similar situation was faced by investigators in the United States, where the Golden State Killer was then caught using the same methods just two years earlier in 2018. In the Netflix series, it seems that the Golden State Killer is caught, and then it only takes a moment for the Swedish police to also find Daniel Nyqvist.
In reality, there were more than two years between the two arrests. Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. was identified through DNA as the serial killer “Golden State Killer” and arrested on April 24, 2018, while Daniel Nyqvist was arrested on June 9, 2020.
The Netflix series The Breakthrough not only depicts the impossible double murder mystery but also shows the persistence that led to the killer’s arrest 16 years later. Had investigators not insisted on trying this new method, the case would still be unsolved.
A Swedish true crime series you shouldn’t miss
If you’re into fascinating true crime series, The Breakthrough is a must-watch. With its intense story of technological advances via DNA combined with genealogy, the series shows that even the darkest secrets can be revealed.
When you watch the Netflix series, you’ll notice that the names and details have been changed. However, not a whole lot has actually changed when it comes to the case itself. This includes the killer’s explanation that he had to kill to get peace of mind.
The detail that Mohamed Ammouri’s parents had a daughter after his death, and named the girl after Anna-Lena, who tried to save Mohamed, is also true. Just as 8-year-old Mohamed was usually always accompanied by his 13-year-old older sister.
October 19, 2004, was the first time he walked to school alone. As we all know now, he never made it to school.
Although the Netflix series The Breakthrough is correctly described as fictional it is based (very directly) on the true crime case of the Linköping double murders.
Daniel Nyqvist received a psychiatric custodial sentence for the double murders
On October 1, 2020, Daniel Nyqvist was convicted and received a custodial sentence for murdering Mohamed Ammouri and Anna-Lena Svensson on October 19, 2004.
His own statements alone, that he felt compelled to kill two people to get some peace, pointed to the fact that he was potentially mentally ill. Both the defense and the prosecution agreed that Daniel Nyqvist should get a psychiatric custodial sentence rather than a prison sentence.
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However, they did not agree on whether it was murder or manslaughter. The defense believed that Daniel Nyqvist should be convicted of manslaughter due to his almost psychotic state, while the prosecutor wanted a murder conviction.
Daniel Nyqvist was convicted of two counts of murder.
He was also sentenced to pay compensation to the family of Mohamed Ammouri, who was only 8 years old when murdered. A total amount of 350,000 Swedish kronor (just over 31,000 US dollars), which the prosecutor considered far too little.
Watch The Breakthrough Netflix series based on this true story
You can now watch Netflix’s depiction of the investigation in the miniseries The Breakthrough. It has just four episodes and premiered on January 7, 2025. You can also read our review of the series here >
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