The Stockholm District Court convicted him of, among other things, preparation for a terrorist crime and aggravated participation in a terrorist organization. The court took into account that he was under 18 when some of the crimes were committed in determining the sentence.
Together with a 17-year-old boy, he was also convicted of the attempted murder of a man in Germany in August 2024. Both deny the attempted murder.
The 17-year-old was sentenced to closed youth care for one year and four months.
During the trial, the 19-year-old admitted to the terrorist plans and to his participation in a terrorist organization, which consisted of him repeatedly swearing allegiance to the terrorist group IS.
"Serious damage"
The plans were to attack the Cultural Festival in August last year and kill as many visitors as possible. The attack was to be carried out with a suicide vest, bomb belt, guns and grenades, according to the verdict.
He obtained ingredients for explosives and began manufacturing, but never built a finished bomb.
He chose the Cultural Festival after searching ChatGPT, according to the verdict. He justified his plans by saying that people who attend the festival "have contributed to killing Muslims by paying taxes that go to Sweden's defense." At the same time, he said that he wanted to spare children, innocent women and the elderly.
During the trial, his defense attorney highlighted that the 19-year-old had no more than basic knowledge of explosives, but the district court ruled that he had a strong desire to commit the act and also the ability to come into contact with like-minded people.
"Although there have not yet been any ready-made explosives, the prosecutor's investigation shows that these were explosives that could have potentially caused serious damage," says Councilor Katarina Fabian in a press release.
Police infiltrator
It was in the late summer of 2024 that the then 17-year-old boy appeared on the police radar. At the turn of the year, it was decided that the police would work undercover, and an "undercover" police officer made contact.
The police gained his trust, among other things, by bringing a number of firearms that the suspect was allowed to handle and pose with in pictures.
A preliminary mental examination showed that the man may have been suspected of suffering from a serious mental disorder, but in December a forensic psychiatric examination determined that this was not the case and that he could be sentenced to prison.
