The risk of infiltration is greatest at the municipal level. Often, it's about gaining influence in matters such as child custody and decisions on grants, according to the National Police Commissioner.
Politics is interesting because if you get in, it means power and you can influence and participate in decision-making in a completely different way, says Petra Lundh.
She highlights that there are several clear examples where infiltration has occurred and mentions both the Södertälje network and a well-known family network in Gothenburg.
Åkesson's Wedding
Petra Lundh was invited to the Riksdag's Justice Committee on Thursday, along with Säpo Chief Charlotte von Essen, to discuss gang infiltration.
The background to the meeting is that it has emerged that a person who attended SD leader Jimmie Åkesson's wedding at the end of September has ties to a criminal motorcycle gang. This has led to questions about what security assessments were made.
When we can establish that gang leaders move in the same environment as the Vice Prime Minister, party leaders, and members of parliament, we should inform ourselves in the Justice Committee. How are these assessments made around the central government leadership? said Annika Strandhäll (S) to Ekot in connection with the invitation.
Säpo does not highlight that any party would be more affected, but says that it is a broad problem within politics where actors are interested in influencing decisions at different levels.
You need to be very aware that there is a risk of infiltration and that you are looking for vulnerabilities that can be used to get into the business, says Säpo Chief Charlotte von Essen.
Does Not Comment on the Motorcycle Gang Leader
She also warns that foreign powers have an interest in infiltrating politics.
We know that one goal is to target decision-making to gain access to information. There is, for example, a particular interest in NATO issues.
Whether it was alarming that a gang leader was present at Åkesson's wedding, where, for example, Vice Prime Minister Ebba Busch (KD) also participated, is not something the Säpo Chief comments on.
I'm not going to comment on this event, says von Essen.
We are responsible for protecting the central government leadership. What we do, or say, or how we make assessments is not something we talk about outwardly.
