Swedish police officers are singled out as a target for terrorist acts.
Katharina von Sydow, president of the Police Association, believes that the situation is “extremely serious”.
– Our members, the police, are the ultimate guarantors of safety and security.
In the wake of the Koran burnings, the terrorist organization al-Qaeda has repeatedly called for terrorist acts against Sweden.
The latest call was made last Friday, when a group with connections to the organization published a video specifically calling for the killing of, among other things, Swedish police officers.
Additional strain
She believes that the threat image represents another strain for the police to deal with.
– We have been under pressure for a long time and my members are well prepared, but this becomes another aspect and another strain to deal with when there are different arrangements, says Katharina von Sydow.
So far, however, she has not noticed any major concern among the members.
– It is clear that you reflect on what this means, but you are well prepared for the assignment. I can also imagine that the relatives of police officers can feel greater concern than the police themselves do, she says.
More threats likely
Tobias Bergqvist, commanding officer at the police’s National Operational Department, says that the threat has been known for a long time and that it is likely that more threats will be directed at the police in the future.
– Based on that, we work intensively with employee protection and have a security department that looks at incoming threats. But not least it’s about catching any concerns among employees, it’s a big authority, he says.
The police authority does not need to take any additional measures due to the threat, believes Katharina von Sydow, but put extra focus on the security work it is already doing.
– I feel safe with the operational work that the police management does and the decisions that are made, she says.