The terrorist threat level in Sweden will during the day be raised from level 3 to level 4, experiences Today’s news. This means that the threat level goes from “increased threat” to “high threat”.
A press conference is planned to be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday.
– I can confirm that we will send the press invitation to a press conference at 1 p.m. where we will inform about the deteriorating security situation, says Security Police spokesperson Fredrik Hultgren-Friberg to TV4 Nyheterna.
Security police chief Charlotte von Essen will take part in the press conference.
It is the first time since 2016 that the threat level has been raised to level 4.
The expert: “Very serious”
Terrorist researcher Magnus Ranstorp believes that the threat is “very serious and long-lasting” but is not surprised that the terror threat level is being raised.
– We have been betting for quite a long time, so I am not particularly surprised, says Ranstorp.
He does not believe that the increase means any major change for the public.
– We have been mentally at a level 4 and had a lot of discussions about what the threat means. The public knows that there is a deteriorating security situation, he says.
He believes that the police will increase visibility on the streets and squares, but believes that they do not really know what the increase means for society. This despite the fact that the terror threat level was raised to level 4 once before in 2016.
– There has been no real analysis of what the effects will be.
Social Democrats party leader Magdalena Andersson does not want to comment on the data but says the situation is serious.
– It is important that everyone in society contributes to lowering tensions and that we do what we can to lower the threat level, she says.
In Sweden, it is the National Center for Terror Threat Assessment, NCT, which makes assessments of the terror threat level. The working group consists of personnel from the Defense Radio Institute, the Military Intelligence and Security Service and the Security Police.
Deteriorated security situation
The deteriorating security situation in Sweden is due, among other things, to the recent Koran burnings in the country, something that has sparked reactions in many Muslim countries.
During the weekend, al-Qaeda called for terrorist attacks in Sweden.
– We must carefully think about where we move and how we move, said Jörgen Holmlund, teacher of intelligence analysis at the Norwegian Defense Academy to Nyhetsmorgon earlier this week.
Facts: Säpo’s terror threat levels
The threat level consists of five steps:
1. No threat. No threat has been identified.
2. Low threat. The probability that actors have the intention and ability to carry out attacks is low.
3. Increased threat. The probability that actors have the intention and ability to carry out attacks is elevated.
4. High threat. The probability that actors have the intention and ability to carry out attacks is high. Threat level four requires that there be a concrete threat to Sweden.
5. Very loud. The probability that actors have the intention and ability to carry out attacks is very high. It is required that a concrete threat must be imminent or imminent. This level has so far not been used.
The decision on the terrorist threat level in Sweden is made by the head of the security police. Today, the terrorist threat level is a three on the five-point scale.
Source: Säpo