The purpose: to strengthen the overall defense’s ability in crises or in the utmost – war
This weekend, you who move in Stockholm’s inner city can meet armed military at the Riksdag and hear gunfire around Frihamnen.
Everything is part of the Birger Jarl 25 exercise where the Armed Forces and several other authorities participate.
– We practice to strengthen the total defense’s ability to protect Stockholm’s inner city in crises or in the utmost – war, says Lieutenant Lieutenant Niclas Eriksson.
Between February 14 and 18, the Armed Forces together with the police and other authorities will conduct an exercise in central Stockholm.
– Stockholm’s inner city is a complex environment to work in and therefore it is important that we practice together on this to strengthen the total defense’s ability to protect it in crises or in the utmost – war, says Lieutenant Niclas Eriksson, exercise leader and deputy manager at Mellersta the military region in a press release.
Armed military around the inner city
The exercise, Birger Jarl 25, will be visible through armed military at the Riksdag, Gärdet and Norra Djurgården as well as other areas around the county. In total, around 2,000 people are expected to participate in the exercise.
The Home Guard in Stockholm and Livgardet’s life battalion will practice their main tasks, that is, protection and monitoring of socially important buildings.
-Stockholm, as a coastal capital, has a strategic location in the Baltic Sea area, which has become even more relevant as we are NATO allied. Together with the other total defense, the exercise aims to strengthen our common defense capacity with a focus on Stockholm, which also contributes to a stronger alliance, says Lieutenant Colonel.
Shooting may occur
In barred areas in Kista, Huddinge and Frihamnen, gunfire with loose ammunition may occur. The Armed Forces states that residents in the areas concerned should have received special information.
More information about the exercise can be found on the Swedish Armed Forces website.