Swedish gangs as intermediaries for Iran – this is what has happened

The criminal networks Foxtrot and Rumba have carried out an act against Israel's embassy in Stockholm on behalf of Iran, according to Israel's intelligence agency Mossad. The Swedish Security Service Säpo has confirmed that Iran is using Swedish gangs as intermediaries. This is what we know so far.

» Updated: October 04 2024

» Published: June 01 2024

Swedish gangs as intermediaries for Iran – this is what has happened
Photo: Tullverket

The criminal networks Foxtrot and Rumba have carried out acts against Israel's embassy in Stockholm on behalf of Iran, according to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.

Säpo has confirmed that Iran uses Swedish gangs as intermediaries.

This is what we know about what has come to light.

Several media outlets, including DN and Jerusalem Post, reported on Thursday that Mossad had received information that Iran was using criminal networks from Sweden to attack Israeli targets in Stockholm.

They are said to have used both the Foxtrot network, led by Rawa Majid, and Rumba, led by Ismail Abdo, to plan and carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets.

How were the networks recruited?

Majid and Abdo were former friends but ended up on opposite sides in a bloody conflict when the Foxtrot network split last year. A large number of murders, murder attempts, and bombings are linked to the conflict. Abdo is said to have started the Rumba network after the split.

Both are wanted and are believed to be abroad. They are said to have mainly stayed in Turkey, where they obtained citizenship.

According to Mossad, Rawa Majid was recruited by Iran when he fled Turkey in the fall of 2023, when authorities were trying to revoke his Turkish passport. He was then arrested in Iran and faced a choice: prison or cooperation, according to Mossad.

Ismail Abdo is also said to have been in Turkey for a longer period and was recently arrested there on suspicion of weapons offenses. He was released shortly afterwards on bail. There are no Mossad reports on how Rumba was recruited by Iran.

What events are linked to the networks?

Foxtrot is believed by Mossad to be behind an incident in Stockholm in January when a hand grenade was thrown at Israel's embassy, but did not detonate.

Rumba is said by Mossad to be behind an incident when shots were fired at the embassy in May. A boy under the age of 15 was arrested the same evening on suspicion of involvement.

What do Swedish authorities say?

Säpo and the police have confirmed that Iran uses criminal networks to carry out violent acts against other states, groups, or individuals in Sweden. Specifically, Israel and Jewish interests are mentioned as targets.

Säpo states that it has handled several cases in recent years where plans for attacks with connections to Iranian security services have been foiled in Sweden, including the use of criminal networks as intermediaries.

The Swedish government strongly reacts to the information and Foreign Minister Tobias Billström has said that Iran's ambassador in Sweden will be summoned to the Foreign Ministry.

What does Iran say?

Iran's embassy in Sweden denies the information from Säpo and the Israeli intelligence agency about Swedish gangs acting as intermediaries for Iran.

On the embassy's website, the information is called "fake news" and "false and fabricated". It is also stated that the information is spread deliberately from Israel to shift the focus from "the massacre in Gaza".

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By TTTranslated and adapted by Sweden Herald

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