For the first time, Almedalsveckan is being held since the terror threat level in Sweden was raised to the second-highest level.
Things can happen. We have taken precautions. We are on our toes, says security officer Jonathan Ahdrian.
This year's Almedalsvecka begins on Tuesday. Over four days, around 30,000 visitors, including party leaders and other high-ranking officials, are expected to come to Visby.
The ambition is to maintain the week's openness, even though the general security situation has deteriorated in Sweden.
The knife murder of senior physician Ing-Marie Wieselgren, in broad daylight and among hundreds of people, in 2022 led to a range of measures ahead of Almedalsveckan 2023. Since then, the terror threat level in Sweden has been raised to four on a five-point scale.
Jonatan Ahdrian, Region Gotland's security officer, is cautious about commenting on new measures ahead of this year's event.
It may be visible when you get here, but we're not announcing it beforehand, so as not to be mapped out, he says.
No Bag Ban
Besides police and security guards, the entire Almedals area will be under camera surveillance. Just like last year, there will be barriers with traffic obstacles and a ban on flying drones.
Ahdrian stresses that security is created by many different actors, not just the police and security guards.
Courses in public safety have been held for officials and event organisers. Organisers are recommended, for example, to have hosts who welcome attendees to events, among other things, to detect people with deviant behaviour.
Officials, including Almedals hosts out in the town, are to be extra vigilant. The mantra is: "See something, do something".
The bag ban that the police introduced last autumn for concerts and sporting events, for example, does not apply.
"We're on Our Toes"
Mia Stuhre, Region Gotland's operations manager, points out that the Almedals area is an open area in the city centre, where people also live.
It would have been very difficult for us to say that you, as a commuter returning from your long holiday, can't bring your bag, she says.
Visitors are recommended to leave larger bags at a central left-luggage facility.
Stuhre stresses that even though the general terror threat level is assessed as high, there is no known specific threat against Almedalsveckan.
There is nothing that currently indicates that there is something we need to act on, she says.
Security officer Jonatan Ahdrian feels secure with the measures taken.
But it's no guarantee. Things can happen. We have taken precautions. We are on our toes, he says.
