Swedish intelligence raises terror alert after Quran burning incidents

-Recent wave of Quran burnings in Sweden have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation in Muslim countries

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Swedish intelligence has raised the country’s terror alert level to “high” following angry reactions in the Muslim world to Quran burnings in the country.

The previous alert level was “elevated” and had been in effect since 2016.

The new “high” level is the second highest on a scale of five.

The head of the Swedish Security Agency (Sapo), Charlotte von Essen, said the decision was made due to the “worsening situation regarding threats of attacks in Sweden.”

She added that the threat is expected to continue for a long time.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that “planned terrorist attacks have been averted” and “people have been arrested.”

The recent wave of Quran burnings in Sweden has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation in Muslim countries.

In July, Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad twice, setting fire to the compound the second time.

The Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation has also expressed “disappointment” with Sweden and Denmark for not acting after the arsons.

Kristersson said Sweden was making intensive diplomatic efforts with Muslim countries to calm the “difficult” situation.

In 2022, the country became the target of a widespread disinformation campaign alleging that Swedish social services were “kidnapping Muslim children” and placing them in Christian homes.

The Swedish government has denied these allegations.

The country has a long history of welcoming refugees and immigrants and is considered a tolerant and open society. However, recent attacks and threats have cast a shadow over that image.

Earlier this year, right-wing Swedish-Danish activists burned several copies of the Quran to denounce both Islam and Sweden’s application for membership in NATO and subsequent negotiations with Türkiye.