Do not use Swedish symbols abroad

This summer’s heightened threat level was followed up by Monday’s terrorist attack in Brussels, where Swedes appear to have been the targets.

Here, two security experts answer what a Swede should think about before an upcoming trip abroad.

TT: Autumn vacation is approaching. What should you think about before a planned trip abroad?

Jörgen Holmlund, teacher in intelligence analysis at the Norwegian Defense Academy:

– Follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ various travel recommendations to different countries. I also usually look at the UK and USA writing for travel recommendations to different countries, because they usually have a wider palette of information. Then you end up quite wise.

Mikael Klots Rubin, senior security consultant with a background as a police officer in the national task force:

– It is very good to keep track of and read up on your destination, not only those with a higher risk but also if it applies to countries in Europe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ app Resklar is very good with a lot of information

TT: Are there any countries or places to avoid?

Jörgen Holmlund:

– Of the 57 countries (Islamic Cooperation Organization OIC) that condemned Sweden after the Koran burnings, there are both moderating forces and those that stand in the way more. But in general, you should be more careful in those countries about making it visible that you are traveling as a Swede. I would personally avoid them completely.

Mikael Klots Rubin:

– If you see a large group of people starting to gather, who are going to demonstrate or make some other statement, you should avoid it and get away. This also applies if there are a lot of police in an area, especially if they are wearing riot gear.

TT: Should you behave in a different way than before abroad?

Jörgen Holmlund:

– The public is often much wiser in many respects than we think. One’s own responsibility and thinking can sometimes go further than authority recommendations, but it is still important to listen to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their rules of conduct regarding the situation in countries or certain areas.

Mikael Klots Rubin:

– Always have a healthy attention, where you try to be aware of what is happening around you. Make sure you are mentally prepared to act if something happens, and that you dare to react to your gut feeling. When you go abroad, you are often in public places where other people are, and it is precisely there that terrorist attacks are more likely to happen than in other places.

TT: Can you let your child wear a Sweden jersey?

Jörgen Holmlund:

– I think that all parents, considering what happened, will automatically avoid that. Do not use clear Swedish symbols, such as a cap, or be open that a whole Swedish school class is coming here. Poppers can inspire each other.

Mikael Klots Rubin:

– I had told them to avoid it, at least for the near future as an attack has already been carried out.

TT: How long do we need to think about safety and how we travel?

Jörgen Holmlund:

– In my world, it is reasonable that we take height for a changed behavior with increased security until 2024. Unfortunately, there is a risk that it will happen again within a year, because Sweden is a priority target for these groupings.

– When we turn the page to 2025, we can see what analyzes give us. The measures that the Foreign Ministry and others are now taking to communicate with these countries and turn the discussion back must be given time to work before it can be seen that there really is evidence that the threat picture has decreased. In plain words: I think it takes longer than we might think.

Mikael Klots Rubin:

– The threat picture will continue for a long time to come. As long as you see the harsh rhetoric against Sweden, there will be risks and then you need to think about how you express yourself with Swedish symbols. It’s the same with attention, it will need to be at a higher level for the foreseeable future.

– But having said that, the biggest risk when you go abroad is still illness or an accident, statistically speaking. It is very unlikely that you will experience a terrorist attack, but that does not mean that you should not prepare for it.