That’s why the police carry automatic weapons in Christmas shopping

Sweden is at a historically high terrorist threat level.
Now Christmas is approaching, which means more public gatherings and heightened preparedness on the part of the police.
One way to do that is to patrol with automatic weapons.
– It increases our ability to intervene quickly if a situation occurs that involves ongoing deadly violence, says Michael Fetz, police chief and coordinator for counter-terrorism in the Stockholm region.

The high terror threat level in Sweden, combined with the start of the Christmas week, means that the police are increasing their preparedness and presence in society.

– We have increased our staffing throughout Sweden. Especially in places and times when there are a lot of people moving around. Such as in shopping centers, at railway stations, airports and streets and squares, says Michael Fetz, police chief and coordinator for counter-terrorism in the Stockholm region.

Patrols with automatic weapons

When the terror threat level was raised from a three to a four on the five-point scale in August this year, the police strengthened their resources. One of the ways was to carry automatic weapons, which police officers are now increasingly seen patrolling the community with.

– It is a link based on terrorist threat level four. It is to increase our preparedness and increase our ability to intervene quickly if a situation involving ongoing deadly violence occurs.

It is not common for police officers to carry automatic weapons openly on the streets in Sweden. Michael Fetz understands that can raise eyebrows.

– We have these weapons to be able to act if something were to happen in a better way than we can with the gun.

Urges vigilance

Michael Fetz urges people to live their lives as usual and exemplifies that you can go to a concert, a sporting event or Christmas shopping. At the same time, you should be on the alert.

– But you must be vigilant, and attentive and aware of the environment you are in.

With a week to go until Christmas Eve, are you worried that something will happen?

– I am not worried, but I am very aware that it is a time of very high threat, with terror threat level four, at the same time that there is a lot of activity throughout the country with the Christmas shopping.