The hearing will take place behind closed doors, the court decides. There are more guards and uniformed police officers than usual around the security room in Stockholm District Court. On the street outside, a couple of police officers with reinforcement weapons are standing.
In the courtroom, the 18-year-old terrorist defendant sits, long-haired and slumped, next to his defense attorney with his back to the audience.
The 18-year-old admits that he participated in a terrorist organization, one of the charges, says lawyer Johan Åkermark in court, reports Ekot in SR.
This means that he admits that he was part of the terrorist group ISIS, which he had not done before. However, he denies the rest of the charges.
The 17-year-old co-defendant boy sits in the row behind.
Together they are charged with attempted murder, or preparation for murder, and participation in a terrorist organization.
According to the indictment, in August last year they traveled to the German village of Eppstein to slit the throat of a man, which they themselves believed was on behalf of IS. Both teenagers have, according to the prosecutor, sworn allegiance to IS.
The remaining charges against the 18-year-old – preparation for a terrorist offence and preparation for a breach of the Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods – will not be heard in court until next week. He has previously denied those offences.
After the charges have been listed, the press corps and the rest of the public are sent out. The court decides that the rest of the trial will be held behind closed doors. The reason is the age of the defendants and that parts of the evidence in the case are classified.
