Sweden Raises Terrorist Threat Level After Acts Against the Koran
STOCKHOLM, Aug 17 (Reuters) – Sweden’s national security service, SAPO, has raised its terrorist alert to the second highest level on Thursday, citing the recent burnings and acts against the Koran that have outraged Muslims. The security agency warned that the threat of attack could persist for a long time.
The increase in tension comes after anti-Islam activists in Denmark and Sweden damaged several copies of the Muslim holy book in recent months. These actions have been met with widespread condemnation from many parts of the Muslim world. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for severe punishment for those responsible and declared that Sweden was in battle mode against the Muslim world.
In response to the heightened threat, SAPO raised the warning level from 3 to 4 on a scale from 1-5, indicating a “high threat”. SAPO head Charlotte von Essen stated that Sweden has transitioned from being considered a legitimate target for terrorist attacks to being a prioritized target. She emphasized that the increase in the terror threat level was a means to raise consciousness about the ongoing threat and the need for society to improve its resilience.
The Swedish armed forces also announced that they were raising the terrorism threat level for operations. Meanwhile, both Britain and the United States have cautioned their nationals against traveling to Sweden due to the potential for terrorist attacks amid ongoing protests both in Sweden and neighboring Denmark.
Sweden and Denmark are known for their liberal policies and have allowed strong criticism of religions for a long time. However, the desecration of the Koran is viewed as a serious offense by many Muslims, who consider it to be the literal word of God.
It is important to note that Sweden experienced its biggest terrorist attack in recent history in 2017. An Uzbek immigrant, pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, drove a truck through a bustling Stockholm street, killing five people.
The increase in the terrorist threat level serves as a reminder that the threat persists and that society must remain vigilant and resilient in the face of this ongoing challenge.
Reporting by Simon Johnson, Johan Ahlander, Terje Solsvik, Louise Rasmussen, and Niklas Pollard; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Devika Syamnath