The British Foreign Office is now warning its citizens of terrorist attacks in Sweden. The US is also warning of terrorist acts on Swedish soil.
Security advisor Henrik Landerholm urges Swedes to be more careful, regardless of which country they are in.
Threats to Swedish interests cannot be ruled out anywhere, he tells TT.
”"It is very likely that terrorists will attempt to carry out attacks in Sweden. The attacks could occur indiscriminately and in places frequented by foreigners," the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in its travel recommendations, which were changed on Sunday.
It also states that the authorities in Sweden have successfully thwarted several planned attacks and made a number of arrests. Over 850,000 British citizens visit Sweden each year, the department states.
The US State Department has also changed its travel recommendations to a higher security level, which was already done on July 26. Citizens are urged to exercise ”increased caution” due to the terrorist threat. Canada and New Zealand have also raised the threat of terrorist attacks in their travel advice regarding Sweden.
Sweden's National Security Advisor Henrik Landerholm made a statement on the government's website on Sunday about the "deteriorating security situation".
Why are you making your statement now, is it because the UK has made its recommendation?
”"It could have come yesterday and it could have come tomorrow. It is an accumulated process over a long hot summer where Swedish interests have come to be not only explicitly threatened, but also attacked in the wake of the Koran burnings. The countries' statements are part of the same pattern, even if their intelligence is not identical to ours," responds Henrik Landerholm, who believes that it has developed into a question of responsibility for him to come forward with this information.
Is there any specific threat or information that has become a trigger for you?
”No, no. It’s an accumulated chain of events over a month and a half.”
In the statement on the website, Landerholm writes: "In light of the development, Swedes and businesses abroad associated with Sweden should exercise increased vigilance and caution.".
Can you elaborate on what Swedes should do or not do?
”"Above all, you should think about: where you are, how you act and what places you are in. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' travel advice remains in effect as before and travel to large parts of the Middle East is advised against."”
Is it only the Middle East that you should stay away from?
”"We have concrete statements from both Hezbollah and al-Shabaab in Somalia urging their followers to avenge the Koran burning regardless of where they are geographically located. It is clear that the Middle East in that sense constitutes more of a hotspot, but threats to Swedish interests cannot be ruled out anywhere."”
Unions have raised concerns about the safety of embassy staff. What is being done about it?
”"The Foreign Service is handling this issue and I have full confidence that it, with its long experience, will do what is necessary."”
You have a background as a politician, do you see that your statement could result in any political measures or decisions?
”"It is too early from my point of view to assess. There are other parts of the Government Offices where such preparatory work has begun. What I have done is a generic description of the security situation."”
Source: TT-DI.SE
