Sweden raised its alert level for potential terrorist attacks to the second highest level on Thursday, saying it had thwarted attacks following the burning of copies of the Quran and other actions that angered Muslims, prompting extremists to issue threats. The Swedish Security Service elevated the threat level from level three to four on a scale of five, reflecting the severity of the threat.
The head of the agency, Charlotte von Essen, stated at a press conference, "No single event led to the decision to raise the level, but we know that Hezbollah, Al-Shabaab, and Al-Qaeda have called on their supporters to carry out acts against Sweden."
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mentioned in a press conference that individuals had been arrested in Sweden and abroad after thwarting planned attacks. He added, without providing details about the plots, "I understand that many Swedes feel concerned, but we must live our lives as usual; we must defend our lives and our way of life."
The Swedish Armed Forces also raised their alert level regarding threats to their operations, while Britain and the United States warned their citizens against traveling to Sweden. The largest terrorist attack in modern Swedish history occurred in 2017 when an Uzbek migrant loyal to the Islamic State ran over pedestrians with a truck in a busy street in Stockholm, killing five people.
The incidents of burning the Quran have faced strong condemnation from many Muslim countries, with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging severe punishment against those responsible and stating that Sweden is waging a war against the Islamic world.
