On Sunday, the Armed Forces practiced its associations to protect the Swedish Parliament and the government during an elevated security situation – in the middle of central Stockholm. Over 200 soldiers patrolled and stood post in the city center to practice the fictional scenario to prepare them for the crisis.
Everything is part of the Birger Jarl 25 exercise where the Armed Forces and several other authorities participate.
– We practice to strengthen the total defense’s ability to protect Stockholm’s inner city in crises or in the utmost – war, Lieutenant Niclas Eriksson has previously told TT.
Between February 14 and 18, the Armed Forces, together with the police and other authorities, conduct an exercise in central Stockholm. During the exercise, the Home Guard trains in Stockholm and Livgardet’s life battalion on the protection and monitoring of socially important buildings and facilities, the Armed Forces said in a press release.
For example, it is about the Riksdag, the Government Offices, the Defense Health Quarter, Airports and Ports. Armed soldiers will be seen in addition to central Stockholm, also at Gärdet, Norra Djurgården, areas in Kista, Bromma, Kungsängen, and in Ekerö and Huddinge municipality.
About 2,000 people, including persons from other total defense players, participate in the exercise who were named Birger Jarl 25.
“Stockholm’s inner city is a complex environment to work in and therefore it is important that we practice together,” says the exercise leader Supreme Lieutenant Niclas Eriksson.