The autumn elections mean extra pressure on both Säpo and the police. So far there are no concrete threats linked to the elections, but serious incidents cannot be ruled out.
What appears to be the greatest threat to elected officials and central government leadership is individuals acting alone, says Carolina Björnsdotter Paasikivi, head of the security department at Säpo.
It is a threat that Säpo has warned about for a long time. Lone perpetrators can be difficult to detect and can also move quickly from words to action. Mental illness complicates matters further.
“More than bodyguards”
How Säpo protects ministers and party leaders is not discussed in more than general terms.
"We have specific protective measures in place, more than just bodyguards, including various technical solutions," says Anna, Säpo's chief of operations for the election, who is speaking without her last name.
Domestic violent extremists also tend to become more active during election years. But in those circles, they tend to target dissenters more, according to Säpo.
The police have already seen how "things are starting to move" and are preparing for disturbances on the streets and squares.
We know that the number of expressions of opinion, threats and hatred against elected officials increases during an election year, says Marie Borg, the police's chief of operations for the election.
During the last election year of 2022, extreme situations arose when several cities were hit by the so-called Easter Rising. Afterwards, the police were criticized for not being sufficiently prepared, despite intelligence about the risk of violence.
Trained more
Since then, the police have trained more people in what is abbreviated in police language as SPT, special police tactics, which are used to maintain order and security at public gatherings.
Regional operations centers also monitor everything from public gatherings to crimes against critical public services.
This allows us to evaluate and act on information much earlier, says Marie Borg.
At the same time, the interest from foreign powers in disrupting the election is assessed as limited, according to Säpo.
What we know so far about foreign powers is that they do not particularly prioritize influencing the Swedish election, says Carolina Björnsdotter Paasikivi.
But there are issues that Russia, for example, could want to magnify and exploit, including support for Ukraine, NATO and migration.
"You are opportunists; if you get an opportunity, you might do it," says Björnsdotter Paasikivi.
