The two Afghan IS supporters intended to carry out a terrorist act against the Swedish Parliament.
But the plans failed – largely due to poor local knowledge, according to terrorist Magnus Ranstorp.
– They made some mistakes, which was lucky for us, he says.
In March last year, two Afghan men – 23 and 30 years old – were arrested in the German city of Gera in Thüringen.
They had been commissioned by the Afghan branch of the Islamic State, is Khorason, to carry out a terrorist attack at the Swedish Parliament. At least ten people would be shot dead.
Today, the men were sentenced to prison.
“Made some mistakes”
Among other things, they had gone to the Czech Republic to get hold of weapons – without success. This was a reason why the plans could be stopped, according to terrorist Magnus Ranstorp.
– They made some mistakes, which was lucky for us. They tried to procure weapons in the Czech Republic and they were located there and then, he tells TV4 News and continues:
– They could very well have been traveling to Sweden and connect to the gang criminal environment and get hold of weapons to make this attack.
He believes that men’s actions indicate that they had a inadequate local knowledge of Sweden.
Although the act was stopped at a relatively early stage, this is a “serious plan,” notes Magnus Ranstorp.
-They have been designed this plan of IS-Khorasan and it is the group that is the most serious in Europe and which has been responsible for fairly offensive terrorist plans for the past two years. It is the biggest threat we see in Europe in the radicalization environment, he says.
Threat to Sweden
He considers the terrorist plans as a symptom of the threat that emerged against Sweden after the Qur’an burns and the LVU campaign.
– It may be reminded that Sweden has been a priority target for these circles in the radicalism environment, and that is not good.
The older man was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, while the younger one had four years and two months. The verdict will probably not have any deterrent effect on other potential terrorists, according to Magnus Ranstorp.
– The verdict does not stop other terrorists as there are such low punishment.
Facts: The terrorist plans against Parliament
In March this year, two men, 30 and 23 years old, were arrested in the German city of Gera.
The police’s intervention force struck after a decision by Germany’s prosecutor Jens Rommel.
The men are suspected to have planned to open fire on police and others in or at the Riksdag in Stockholm. The terrorist plans should be motivated by recent Koran burning in Sweden and have been carved in close consultation with the IS Khorasan, which at least one of the suspected joined last year.
The men must have mapped the area around the Parliament House, and tried to get over firearms, which, however, should not have succeeded.