Terrorism in Sweden

Until recent years, Terrorism in Sweden was not seen as serious threat to the security of the state.[1] The terrorism-related event in modern Swedish history which received the most attention was the West German embassy siege in 1975, which was carried out by the Red Army Faction. In 1976, the same group also planned Operation Leo which was to involve the kidnapping of Anna-Greta Leijon, but which was never set in action.

Then, the highest level violent action in Sweden to date happened in 1986, when Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was killed in an action of dubious motivations. Several different terrorist leads were considered, but none has been proved conclusive.

Right-wing terrorism has caused the most fatalities in Sweden. In 1999 the Swedish Nazi group NRA (Nationella Republikanska Armén) carried out at least 3 bank robberies and killed 2 policemen. Later that year Nazis killed trade-unionist Björn Söderberg in his home. VAM (White Aryan Resistance) is also a Swedish terror group that carried out bank robberies and also robbed a police station.

Over the last decades the issue of certain terrorist groups, such as Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), using Sweden as a free haven has received attention. In the 2000s, the issue of terrorism financing and recruiting for terrorist groups, including Islamic groups, have also been on the security agenda. Criminal acts from domestic political extremist groups, both on the right and on the left, have also become an increasing phenomenon.[1]

The Swedish government agency tasked with keeping watch over terrorism-related threats is the Swedish Security Service.

Human Rights Watch criticized the Swedish government after police in Stockholm arrested Uzbek political opposition leader Muhammad Salih on May 18, 2006. Holly Cartner, HRW Executive Director for Europe and Central Asia, said the "fact that President Karimov can travel freely to Europe while Mohammad Solih remains subject to an Interpol warrant is plainly absurd."[2]

The 2010 Stockholm bombings occurred on 11 December 2010 when two bombs exploded in central Stockholm, Sweden, killing the bomber and injuring two people.[3][4][5][6][7] Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and the Swedish Security Service (SÄPO) described the bombings as acts of terrorism.[5][8] Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, an Iraqi-born Swedish citizen, is suspected of carrying out the bombing.[9][10] The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation described the event as the first suicide attack linked to Islamic terrorism in the Nordic countries.[11][12]

The 2011 Gothenburg terrorism plot understood as targeting Swedish artist Lars Vilks was thwarted by police.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 SÄPO: Våldsam politisk extremism ("Violent political extremism"), July 2009 report (Swedish)
  2. ↑ Ministers should expand sanctions on Uzbekistan Human Rights Watch
  3. ↑ Hanson, Matilda E.; Håkansson, Catarina (11 December 2010). "Man sprängde sig själv i Stockholm". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  4. ↑ Svahn, Clas (11 December 2010). "Man död efter explosioner i centrala Stockholm". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  5. 1 2 Nyberg, Per (12 December 2010). "Explosions in Stockholm believed to be failed terrorist attack". CNN. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Stockholm blasts kill one and injure two". BBC. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  7. ↑ Anderson, Christina; Bursh, John F. (11 December 2010). "Stockholm Hit by Blasts After E-Mail Warning". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  8. ↑ Landes, David (12 December 2010). "Stockholm suicide blast a terror attack: police". The Local. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  9. ↑ Gardham, Duncan; Oscarsson, Marcus; Hutchison, Peter (12 December 2010). "Sweden suicide bomber: Taimur Abdulwahab al-Abdaly was living in Britain". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  10. ↑ Paige, Jonathan (12 December 2010). "Stockholm suicide bomber: Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly profile". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  11. ↑ "- Regjeringen reagerer med avsky". Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (in Norwegian). 12 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  12. ↑ Sears, Neil; Bentley, Paul (13 December 2010). "Suicide bomber lived in Britain: Islamic fanatic in Stockholm car blast was radicalised while studying in Luton". Mail Online (London). Retrieved 13 December 2010.
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