The security zone, also known as the search zone, covers parts of Diplomatstaden in Östermalm between Strandvägen and Gärdet. Anyone staying there may be searched, and their vehicle may be searched, without any concrete suspicion of a crime.
According to the decision, there is a "significant risk of serious crime including shootings and explosions" in the area covered by the zone.
The war affects
The background is an increased threat to American and Israeli interests. There is no single incident behind it, Police Chief Felix Andåker said at a press conference. The decision mentions, among other things, a recent explosion at the US embassy in Oslo and shootings at the Israeli embassy on Strandvägen in 2024.
"We have known for some time that we have had several incidents against the Israeli embassy in Stockholm," he says.
According to Säpo and the police, there is a risk that young people are recruited to commit serious violent crimes in Sweden on behalf of state actors, including Iran.
Police Chief Daniel Klang says the police will not search everyone in the zone.
There must be an assessed increased risk of encountering a dangerous object.
According to Klang, the police should make an "overall assessment" of what the area looks like, how the person in question moves, who they hang out with and what intelligence there is. People who do not usually stay in the area can also attract the police's interest.
An intervention can and should never be primarily motivated by actual or presumed ethnicity or nationality. Nor by religion, gender, skin color or sexuality, says Klang.
Deterrent effect
Within the zone are several other embassies and also a church, parks and private businesses.
The area will be marked with signs, but freedom of movement will not be restricted, says Police Chief Annika Laestadius. The decision to establish the zone is intended to increase public vigilance, while at the same time it can have a deterrent effect, she explains.
Now we are very clear that we are doing this. It is a crime-prevention way of talking about what we do.
The police do not rule out more zones in other areas of Israeli and American interest. The zone will be in effect until April 7th in an initial phase.
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