According to Säpo, unrest in the outside world has increased the threat to Sweden. At the same time, radicalization of lone perpetrators is a continuing threat, and Säpo tries in various ways to prevent recruitment to terrorism and financing of terrorist organizations. Radicalization often takes place online, notes Susanna Trehörning, deputy head of constitutional protection and counter-terrorism at the Security Police.
– It is often about a young man, sometimes about children. We have seen cases down to the age of 12, she says when she describes at a press conference how radicalization can happen.
Weapons instructions and harsh words
According to a general type example that Säpo bases on several recently investigated cases, the person finds a community in online forums and acquires national and international contacts there. Säpo describes closed, often encrypted forums, where the language is raw and where there are large amounts of images and videos of violence, and is common, for example, with instructions for how to build your own weapons.
– Algorithms contribute to a self-generating radicalization process that is very difficult to detect and prevent, says Susanna Trehörning.
Gather in groups and networks
She explains that the process from when a person starts watching content and becomes inspired and feels committed to act can last anywhere from several years to just a couple of hours.
– When it comes to actors that we see as a threat, we can see that the process went very quickly.
Traditional threats of attack against Sweden remain, but recently a broader and more long-term threat to democracy has become increasingly apparent, according to Säpo.
– Individuals gather in groups or networks and agree on a narrative that society is unable to cope with its tasks and that the group or network therefore needs to take responsibility and create a parallel societal structure, says Susanna Trehörning.
How common it is with radicalization of young people online is difficult to assess, according to Säpo.
– We do not follow people’s thoughts or opinions, but must try to catch people who pose a threat.