Experts have warned that the risk of terrorist attacks is increasing in Europe and Sweden after Israel and the USA attacked targets in Iran.
The concern is that the Iranian regime will activate, for example, criminal proxies to carry out attacks.
Charlotte von Essen says that the Security Service is closely following the development.
Currently, there is no reason to make any change to the threat level, but it is something we continuously assess. If the development requires a need to raise it, I will not hesitate to make such a decision, she says to TT in Almedalen.
”Right to lower”
She cannot answer details about what would be required for such a decision.
It is still quite early and we need to have a more long-term follow-up to see what consequences it will have for Sweden and Swedish security.
The Swedish terror threat level was lowered as recently as the end of May from a four, high threat, to a three, elevated threat. The scale has five levels.
The head of the Security Service believes it was a correct decision.
I think it was right to do it. I emphasized then, and I want to do so now as well, that it does not mean that the security situation is not serious in Sweden.
On the other hand, the terror threat from, among other things, violent Islamist extremism has decreased and Sweden is no longer pointed out as a priority target, according to the Security Service.
That assessment remains in place at present, says Charlotte von Essen.
She emphasizes that even within level 3, it is possible for a terrorist attack to occur.
Pressured gang leader
At the same time, Foxtrot leader Rawa Majid is reported to be heavily pressured by Iran and actively looking for perpetrators of terrorist attacks in, among other places, Sweden, according to sources to SVT.
We have previously seen how foreign power, in this case Iran, has used proxies in Sweden to carry out various types of attacks, says Charlotte von Essen.
What we see right now in more detail in our operational activities is not something I can go into because it can make it more difficult for us to take the measures we need to take.
If there were to be an increase – what image does it give that the threat level goes down and then up again in a short time?
I think it gives an image of us following the world situation.
