## Government Proposal to Limit Internet Access for Radicalized Youth in Sis Homes
Trollhättan – October 22, 2015: A tragic school attack claimed the lives of a 17-year-old student, a 42-year-old teacher, and a 20-year-old student assistant. The attacker, a 21-year-old perpetrator, was shot by the police and later died in the hospital.
Varberg – January 28, 2021: Another incident occurred at a secondary school, where a man in his 30s entered armed with a knife and an axe. A 17-year-old student suffered a hand injury during the incident, and the perpetrator was sentenced to forensic psychiatric care.
Eslöv – August 19, 2021: A 15-year-old boy wearing combat clothing, a skeleton mask, and a helmet attacked a teacher at his school with a knife. The boy was convicted of attempted murder and unlawful threats and sentenced to two years and six months in closed youth care.
Kristianstad – January 10, 2022: In yet another school attack, a 16-year-old boy attacked a student and a teacher with a knife in a classroom. The boy was convicted of attempted murder and unlawful threats and sentenced to three years in closed youth care.
Malmö – March 21, 2022: Tragedy struck a high school in central Malmö when two women were killed by an 18-year-old student armed with a knife, ax, and hammer. The perpetrator was sentenced to life imprisonment.
These chilling incidents highlight the growing concern of school attacks in Sweden and the role played by online radicalization forums. According to a recent report by the Expo foundation, youth sentenced to closed youth care for carrying out or planning deadly school attacks have had access to the internet while in Sis homes where they are placed.
One such case involves a 15-year-old in Eslöv and his 16-year-old friend in Kristianstad, both convicted for school attacks in 2021 and 2022. The report claims that these individuals have continued to be active participants in online forums where school attacks are glorified, even after their conviction. From within the Sis homes, they have been inspiring and aiding others in planning similar acts of violence.
Christer Mattsson, a researcher at the Segerstedt Institute at the University of Gothenburg and an expert on radicalization processes within the right-wing extremist environment, finds this situation deeply concerning. Mattsson explains that within these subcultures, former perpetrators become icons for young people who romanticize and fantasize about committing acts of violence.
Moreover, Mattsson points out that these incidents are no longer isolated events as previously seen in school shootings in the United States. The radicalized boys in Sweden now have their own role models within the country, which can further fuel the copycat behavior.
The radicalization process is largely happening online, but Mattsson highlights that susceptibility to radicalization is often preceded by feelings of exclusion, failure, and mental illness. These online forums provide individuals with the validation they seek, replacing their need for connection and enabling their radicalization.
To address this issue, the Swedish government has proposed severely limiting the access to mobile phones and the internet for young people in Sis homes, especially those in higher-security settings. The proposal aims to prevent offenders from inspiring new acts while serving their sentences. A legislative proposal is expected in the autumn.
However, Mattsson questions why these individuals should have any access to the internet at all during their time in Sis homes. He argues that if they have previously spent significant time online and struggle to connect with people in real life, it is a waste of taxpayer money to allow them access to the internet. Instead, they require a different approach and support system that addresses their specific needs.
The government’s proposal to restrict internet access is seen as a crucial step in combating radicalization and preventing further school attacks. The hope is that by limiting their online presence, these individuals can focus on their rehabilitation and learn the necessary skills to lead productive lives.
The legislative proposal, expected later this year, will shed more light on the measures to be implemented within Sis homes and the steps taken to protect vulnerable individuals from the influence of radicalization forums.