On July 24, the US State Department revised its position travel advice for Sweden and its assessment has not changed: the country still faces “terrorism” concerns.
This absolutely does not mean that the country is under attack. But it does mean that it remains a potential target for terrorist organizations.
Sweden is even in the rankings “Level 2: Be extra careful,” meaning the country is safe to travel to, provided recommended safety measures are followed.
But how did the once extremely peaceful Sweden end up on the list of potential targets?
According to Charlotte von Essen, head of the Swedish security service, it is a combination of opportunity and unfortunate publicity.
“The image that has been painted of Sweden as an Islamophobic country has greatly contributed to the increased terrorist threat from violent Islamism. Sweden is still considered a priority target. The threat comes from both lone actors and groups that can be controlled by actors abroad.” Von Essen said earlier this year.
The U.S. government predicts that such groups have the ability to attack with little or no warning at locations visited by Americans, such as airports, hotels, nightclubs, houses of worship, commercial centers, sporting events, educational institutions and tourist sites, as well as government facilities.
“A high terrorist threat, together with the status in general, means that the security situation in Sweden is serious. This will probably remain the case for a long time. The threats are complex; they overlap and therefore become stronger. The rapidly unfolding events are difficult to predict, but often have a direct impact on the threat to Sweden.” concluded Von Essen.
According to the Swedish government, most threats from Islamic extremism, right-wing extremism and lone wolves come from sentiments against the country’s status quo.
So far, the international cooperation of Europol (short for European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) has played an important role in keeping terrorists at bay.
In May 2024, German police arrested two men, identified as Ibrahim MG and Ramin N., both affiliated with IS Khorasan, an Islamic State terrorist group in Afghanistan, suspected of planning a terrorist attack on the Swedish parliament in retaliation for Quran burnings in Stockholm.
At the end of January, the country also launched a terrorism investigation following an explosive object found at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm.
However, traveling to Sweden is still safe if you stay away from the tourist crowds, be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye on the media for the latest news in the country and register in theSmart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to help you locate in an emergencyreads the advice.
