The Iranian armed military group Ashab al-Kahf now directs strong threats against Swedes, via a message on Telegram.
– There are people who will take this as a sign that it is legitimate to seek out and kill Swedes, says terror expert Hans Brun to TV4 Nyheterna.
After the Koran burning in Stockholm and the attack on the Swedish embassy and the tense atmosphere that prevails, the group Ashab al-Kahf is now directing violent threats against Swedes.
– The events with Koran burnings are an act of war and a sign for us to act hard, writes the group on Telegram.
The armed military group that calls its members “Cave Companions” has previously been in conflict with the United States. Among other things, Ashab al-Kahf has claimed responsibility for rocket attacks against US forces. Also the attack on the American embassy in Baghdad in 2020, which Washington Post among other things reported on.
The group’s ideology is based on a strong opposition to Israel and Jews. They are also known to have connections to the Iranian state.
– It is a small movement that has mostly operated in Baghdad and is considered to be close to Iran. They have carried out a handful of bombings in 2020 in Baghdad against American and international targets, says terrorism researcher Hans Brun to TV4 Nyheterna and continues:
– I would say that this is a brand that can be used to carry out attacks and statements without the senders of it all needing to come forward and be seen. Now people are being urged to attack Sweden and Swedish targets without Iran having to take responsibility for it. It’s a fairly common technique that groups like this use today to hide behind a different label.
“Look up all Swedes”
Now the group equates Swedes with Jews and believes that they run errands for the Israeli state. Ashab al-Kahf directs the threats against Sweden, Swedes and Jews on Telegram where they write:
“’Cave Companions’ will carry out our legitimate mission and we only care about God.
Our companions, you must search for all Swedish interests and destroy them”.
They continue:
“Look for every Swede, they are in fact an Israeli Jew but use Sweden’s identity as a cover. Because everything that is going on now is planned and managed by the International Jewish Home. So the Jews are our enemies, so look for them and kill them wherever you find them”.
In the message on Telegram, the military group Ashab al-Kahf directs strong threats.
In the message on Telegram, the military group Ashab al-Kahf directs strong threats.
The terror expert: “Seriously”
A threat that terror expert Hans Brun believes should be taken seriously.
– I would take it quite seriously because there are people who will take this as a sign that it is legitimate to seek out and kill Swedes, he says and continues:
– This is probably a threat to more Swedes in general, even outside of Iraq. So we should not just limit this threat to Baghdad. This may encourage solo action elsewhere.