“Crossed all the red lines”

Sweden is the only country that is mentioned directly when Israel describes Hamas’ activities in Europe. An attack must have been planned in Stockholm.

– If you specifically mention Israel’s embassy in Stockholm, it is something concrete you have identified, says terrorism researcher Magnus Ranstorp.

According to the Israeli government, Hamas, labeled a terrorist, had plans to attack the Israeli embassy in Stockholm.

A man with connections to Sweden is singled out as a high-ranking member of the organization and according to the communiqué, information has emerged about “procurement of drones”.

– I myself received indications that there was a serious threat before this news broke, which strengthens the information Israel is giving out, says Magnus Ranstorp, terrorism researcher at the University of Defense.

But the fact that Sweden is mentioned does not mean that the threat is greater here than elsewhere, he believes.

“All over Europe”

– Hamas has sympathizers all over Europe. The fact that it is happening in Sweden may be due to the fact that some people who have discussed this are simply here. I think the activity has increased both in Sweden and Denmark, but there have also been arrests in Germany.

The alleged assassination plans are linked to arrests in Denmark and Germany in mid-December. In Denmark, people from the criminal gang Loyal to familia are among the suspects.

According to Magnus Ranstorp and other terror experts, Islamist extremist environments in the neighboring country merge with those in Malmö, which has many residents with a Palestinian background and a long history of anti-Semitism.

Radicalized

Magnus Ranstorp met the leadership of Hamas’ various branches twenty years ago and describes the then organization as predictable. Since then, the movement has radicalized and gradually escalated the violence.

So far, they have been wary of attacks outside Israel and occupied territories and have never carried out terrorist acts on European soil. But after the large-scale attack on Israel last year, old rules have ceased to apply, says the terror expert.

– With the attack on 7 October, all red lines have been crossed. It was a total departure from what Hamas has done in the past.

Given the intensity of the war in Gaza, where over 20,000 people are said to have been killed, the risk of a continued terrorist threat to Europe is high, he believes.

– This is a conflict with such deep abysses that the focus on both Hamas and Hezbollah and their financing and infrastructure in Europe will increase.

FACT The war between Israel and Hamas

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