Säpo Ups Sweden Terror Threat to First-Ever High at 4 on 5-Level Scale

Summary: Säpo ups the Sweden terror threat Nov. 18 to a first-ever high at 4 on 5-level scale for heightened security in the wake of Nov. 13's Paris attacks.

police outside Sweden's parliament, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015; photo by Janerik Henriksson/TT: Emma Löfgren @ekjlofgren, via Twitter Nov. 18, 2015

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, the Swedish Security Service set the Sweden terror threat at an all-time high of level four on a five-level scale as a heightened security measure in the aftermath of the Friday, Nov. 13, attacks in Paris.

Abbreviated as Säpo, Säkerhetspolisen (Swedish Security Police) defines alert level four as “the probability that players have the intent and ability to carry is high.” At a press conference on Wednesday evening, Anders Thornberg, Säpo’s Director General, announced that Swedish police are hunting an unidentified person who is suspected of terrorist plans for Sweden and who has been arrested in absentia. Thornberg did not divulge any identifying details, such as age or nationality, about the suspected terrorist.

“We’re at an intensive operative stage and are working to analyse the information,” Thornberg explained to reporters. “Violent Islamism is still the biggest threat against Sweden.”

Information gathered about plans for terrorist activities on Swedish soil is deemed as not having a direct link to Nov. 13’s terror attacks in Paris. The domino effect of copycat activities could motivate the potential threat to Sweden.

“There is a risk the past week’s events could inspire individuals to carry out similar actions,” Thornberg offered.

Earlier in the week, on Monday, Nov. 16, threats against the Swedish government and Swedish parliament were emailed to authorities and police in Stockholm, Sweden’s 14-island, archipelagic capital. Without revealing specifics, Säpo press spokesperson Sirpa Franzén confirmed the threatening emails for Aftonbladet, Sweden’s Stockholm-based daily tabloid.

Franzén stated: “It’s been sent to the Stockholm police and others with wording containing threats against the parliament tomorrow [Tuesday, Nov. 17].”

Since the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, the Sweden terror threat had been placed at level three, an elevated alert. At the Nov. 18 press conference, Mats Sandberg, head of Sweden’s National Centre for Terrorist Threat Assessment, a permanent working group within the Säpo-convened Swedish Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Council, noted that authorities are assessing the likelihood of a “number of people” in Sweden following through on their terrorist abilities and intentions with attacks.

“Isis views Sweden as a legitimate target of violent Islamism. We’re not a prioritized target, but a legitimate one,” Sandberg said.

At a later press conference Nov. 18, Sweden’s Interior Minister, Anders Ygeman, revealed that country-wide increased measures are to be addressed in parliament before Christmas. Included in the measures are procedures to foil the use of fake passports at Sweden’s borders.

The Interior Minister commented on the raised threat level, from "increased threat" at three to "high threat" at four: “It is of course serious. It is the first time we’re raising the level to four.”

At Säpo’s press conference, Anders Thornberg sought to reassure an understandably jittery populace that there was “absolutely no need” for feeling fearful. He explained that the raised terror threat level should instill higher vigilance in Swedes.

At his same-day press conference, Interior Minister Ygeman observed: “If people are worried I understand that, but we are taking all necessary measures, and it’s important we don’t give into the fear the terrorists want us to feel.”

Emma Löfgren is editor of TheLocalSweden, Sweden's news in English: Emma Löfgren @ekjlofgren, via Twitter Nov. 18, 2015

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

police outside Sweden's parliament, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015; photo by Janerik Henriksson/TT: Emma Löfgren @ekjlofgren, via Twitter Nov. 18, 2015, @ https://twitter.com/ekjlofgren/status/667025993312444416

Emma Löfgren is editor of TheLocalSweden, Sweden's news in English: Emma Löfgren @ekjlofgren, via Twitter Nov. 18, 2015, @ https://twitter.com/ekjlofgren/status/667021535736123392

For further information:

Emma Löfgren @ekjlofgren. "Overheard people talking about #Sweden's raised terror threat level on the bus just now: 'It feels pretty scary.'" Twitter. Nov. 18, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/ekjlofgren/status/667021535736123392

Emma Löfgren @ekjlofgren. "This is the first time #Sweden has ever raised its #terror threat level to fourth highest level (out of five)." Twitter. Nov. 18, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/ekjlofgren/status/667025993312444416

Marriner, Derdriu. "After Paris Attacks Italy and Sweden Have High Alerts to Track Threats." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 30, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/11/after-paris-attacks-italy-and-sweden.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Säpo Clears Suspect Arrested at North Sweden Refugee Center." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 30, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/11/sapo-clears-suspect-arrested-at-north.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Stefan Lofven: Sweden Is Drastically Reducing Refugee Intakes." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 30, 2015.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2015/11/stefan-lofven-sweden-is-drastically.html

Plucinska, Joanna. "Sweden's Terror Threat Level Has Been Upped to Its Highest Point Ever." Time > World > Sweden. Nov. 18, 2015.
Available @ http://time.com/4119734/terror-threat-sweden-raised-terrorism/

"Sweden on 'high' terror alert for the first time." The Local SE > Sweden terror plot: Sweden's news in English. Nov. 18, 2015.
Available @ http://www.thelocal.se/20151118/sweden-reported-to-be-raising-terror-threat

"'Threat' directed against Swedish parliament." The Local SE: Sweden's news in English. Nov. 16, 2015.
Available @ http://www.thelocal.se/20151116/threat-directed-at-swedish-parliament