In August, the terrorist threat level in Sweden was raised from level 3 to level 4.
– We have gone from being considered a legitimate target to a priority target for violent Islamism, said Security Police chief Charlotte von Essen at the time.
As potential targets, experts have highlighted places or people of symbolic value to a country.
– That is where it is made visible. If a terrorist attack occurs there, it has a double impact on Sweden. Both an attack with a death and injury outcome, but also: “Look here, you can’t protect your own symbols”, says Jörgen Holmlund, teacher of intelligence at the University of Defense.
Does not rule out that the celebration could be a potential target
Magnus Norell, who researches terrorism and security policy, believes, however, that the celebration of the king’s 50 years on the throne does not necessarily mean an increased threat level.
– The king is not necessarily a goal in itself. If Säpo or the police had received information that there would be a threat, they would have acted.
However, Michael Fetz, co-ordinator for counter-terrorism at the Stockholm Police, does not rule out that this weekend’s celebration could be a potential target for terrorist acts.
– It could be. But we have a large police presence during the days of the celebration. We have been planning for a long time, says Michael Fetz.
The police call for vigilance
For security reasons, the authority does not want to say exactly how many police officers will be on duty, but it is about a hundred – both visible and hidden.
Michael Fetz urges the public who want to join in celebrating the king to continue as usual, but to be vigilant about their surroundings.
– If you get a bad feeling in your stomach, you should contact the police, he says.
SVT Nyheter has been in contact with the court, which does not want to comment on the security issue.
Hear Michael Fetz about the most imaginable threats to the royal celebration in the video above.