Published: Less than 20 minutes ago
First Norway – now Denmark.
However, the deadly deed that has hit our neighboring countries does not mean an increased threat to Sweden, according to Säpo.
But the head of the security police is now warning that extremism in society is growing.
– It can affect violent extremism.
In Oslo, the police are investigating the shooting, in which two people were killed and about 20 injured, as a terrorist crime with an Islamist motive. In Denmark, there is currently no indication that this is an act of terrorism, but the motive for the fatal shooting of three people at a shopping center on Sunday is still unclear.
Two deadly acts near Sweden do not change the Swedish threat level regarding terrorist attacks, which remains at level three out of five, underlines security police chief Charlotte von Essen and explains that terrorist attacks can occur.
– Our assessment is that the biggest threat comes from the pro-violence Islamist milieu and the pro-violence right-wing extremist milieu, she tells TT.
Meet easier
According to Säpo, both environments can be affected by the fact that extremism in a broad sense is growing in Sweden right now.
– We see that more people are drawn to conspiracy theories, says Charlotte von Essen and continues:
– You are drawn to extreme messages, we meet online and in this way we get access to messages and perceptions in a simpler way than before. Young people are seen in the flows in a completely different way than before.
Those who are in an extremist environment can easily end up in a violent environment, Charlotte von Essen explains.
– On these platforms, different types of messages are collected – you create your own ideologies and can find instructions on how to make bombs, for example. But also calls to commit and do something.
“Every day”
In parallel with the threat of violent extremism is also the threat from foreign powers, something that intensified during NATO discussions and the invasion of Ukraine.
– The threat picture from foreign powers has changed and activities are going on against Sweden every day.
Säpo monitors the situation “very intensively”, says Charlotte von Essen.
– It can be about influence operations, it can be directed at our security-sensitive activities, both civilian activities but also military activities. The threat is not either or – but both.
Security cooperation with other countries is constantly ongoing – and in the event of a possible NATO membership, it will be expanded.
– But it is in front of us.