Sweden faces a rising threat from extremist groups because of radicalisation and financing by overseas terrorist groups, a report has said.
The report's publication came as police in Sweden arrested two women on Monday, on suspicion of links to ISIS, after they flew back from Syria.
The 115-page report, called Boundless Extremism: A Study of Transnational Connections to Swedish Radical Environments, gives a warning that extremist groups in Sweden may be “strengthened” through their links with foreign countries because of shared tactical knowledge, ideologies and funding.
The study, which was written by the Swedish National Defence College on behalf of the Centre against Violent Extremism, examined 19 terrorism cases and identified examples of terrorists communicating with foreign extremists and of them attending training camps abroad.
It cites the case of Rakhmat Akilov, who killed five people and injured 15 others in a terror attack in Drottninggatan in 2017.
"Both before, during and after the act, Akilov was in contact with people outside Sweden," it said.
"These transnational contacts were made over the telephone, social media and communication applications such as Facebook, Zello, WhatsApp and Telegram.
"There were a total of 209 chat communications - individual or group chats - registered in Akilov's mobile phone and 16 were judged to have a direct bearing on the attack.
"The case of Akilov is a clear example of the existence of both operational and ideological transnational links, and where both forms of connections seem to have been significant to the course of events."
The study also mentioned links between the Nordic resistance movement and German extremist groups.
“The connections risk having a capacity-enhancing effect on the environments in all respects,” it said.
“This in the form of everything from increased tactical and practical knowledge, ideological inspiration, and financing."
The report highlighted the role of transnational links within the three Swedish extremist circles.
"The significance of these connections is likely to continue to increase," said the report.
"It should be emphasised that the number of transnational connections is significantly more than those involved in the study. This is because it is virtually impossible to get one comprehensive overview of all existing connections and their significance, based on available open information."
It recommended that the authorities review their ability to access encrypted networks and improve transparency in financing groups receive from abroad.
“Transparency in certain types of organisational forms, such as foundations and associations, is very limited,” said Magnus Ranstorp, one of the report’s authors.
“It is necessary to consider that significant donations from foreign actors should be declared publicly.”
The report called for more research into the links.
"As has been emphasised several times, the Swedish extremist milieus do not work together in a national vacuum - on the contrary, the transnational connections are crucial to their ability and development, which is likely to continue to increase in importance in the future," it said.
"An increased academic focus on this dimension is crucial for designing precise countermeasures against the violent extremist milieus, which in the long run can contribute to a safer environment and society."
On Wednesday, alleged Swedish extremist Osama Krayem is due to stand trial over allegations of involvement in the 2015 Paris attacks.
This week Swedish prosecutors announced he was under investigation for "war crimes" committed in Syria.
He has also been implicated in the March 22, 2016, attacks in Brussels, and identified by Belgian investigators as one of the alleged executioners of a Jordanian pilot murdered by ISIS in early 2015 in Syria.
Originally from Malmo in southern Sweden, he is accused of joining ISIS in Syria in 2014 before returning to Europe by taking advantage of open routes for migrants.
About 300 Swedes or Swedish residents, a quarter of them women, joined extremist organisations in Syria and Iraq, mainly between 2013 and 2014, the country's intelligence service said.
Half of them have since returned home.
Due to a lack of Swedish legislation at the time to prosecute "returnees" for associating with a terrorist organisation, charges have been rare.
On Monday, police in Stockholm arrested two women after they arrived at the airport from camps in Syria.
A statement from the Prosecution Authority said multiple investigations were under way against men and women returning from areas that had been controlled by ISIS.
“The international crimes that are relevant for people for people returning from ISIS-controlled areas are war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity,” public prosecutor Reena Devgun said.
“Sweden has an international commitment to investigate and prosecute these crimes.”
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
RESULT
West Brom 2 Liverpool 2
West Brom: Livermore (79'), Rondón (88' )
Liverpool: Ings (4'), Salah (72')
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The specs
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Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
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Don't get fined
The UAE FTA requires following to be kept:
- Records of all supplies and imports of goods and services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents related to receiving goods or services
- All tax invoices and tax credit notes
- Alternative documents issued
- Records of goods and services that have been disposed of or used for matters not related to business
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