The Swedish national security service (SÄPO) has lowered the national threat level for terrorist attacks from the second-highest level to level three out of five. The threat level goes from ‘high’ to ‘elevated’.
In the summer of 2023, the threat level in the Scandinavian country rose after anger arose in many Islamic countries due to Quran burnings in Sweden. The threat was last so high in Sweden in 2016.
The Quran burnings in the capital Stockholm at the time led to strong reactions from international leaders, but also to large protests in Muslim countries. Swedish flags were burned and even the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was set on fire.
“The overall assessment is that the threat of attacks by violent extremism is no longer as high as before. The propaganda against Sweden that was previously seen as increasing the threat, in which Sweden was portrayed as an anti-Islamic country, has recently subsided,” says SÄPO chief Charlotte von Essen on Friday in a statement.
According to Von Essen, Sweden is no longer mentioned separately by Islamic countries, but is seen as part of the West. “Events in the world that previously caused a threat are now no longer considered as influential on the terrorist threat level. The flow of intelligence about possible attacks has also decreased,” it continues.
Brain Behind Quran Burnings Killed Earlier This Year
At the end of January, Salwan Momika was shot dead in an apartment in Stockholm. He was behind many Quran burnings in Sweden and the other Scandinavian countries. Five suspects were arrested for involvement in his death. The Swedish government considered that a foreign power could be involved in the murder.
Before his death, Momika was charged in Sweden for his actions. The man from Iraq was suspected of incitement against an ethnic group on four different occasions in 2023.