Decrease in the terrorist threat level from high to elevated

The decision by the Head of the Swedish Security Service has been made based on the ongoing assessments that the Swedish Security Service makes of the terrorist threat to Sweden, and on a recent strategic assessment made by the National Centre for Terrorist Threat Assessment (NCT).

"The attack threat from traditional violent extremism is not as high as it was before. The threat-inducing propaganda against Sweden, portraying Sweden as an anti-Islam country, has gradually decreased. The reactions to the propaganda being spread are not as strong as they were before and Sweden is no longer being pointed out as a specific country but as part of the West," says Charlotte von Essen, Head of the Swedish Security Service.

In addition, international incidents and events had a threat-inducing effect earlier, but such developments are no longer assessed to have as great an effect on the terrorist threat, and the amount of intelligence information about attack threats is not has high as it was before.

Besides this, the Swedish Security Service and other stakeholders in society have taken a number of actions and imposed various measures that have helped to reduce violent Islamism in Sweden. This has had an effect in terms of both attack planning and the ability of actors/growth of violent extremism in Sweden.

An elevated threat level still includes the possibility that a terrorist attack could occur. It is therefore of great importance to continue the work on relevant security measures and creating the conditions required to reduce the risk of different types of threats.

Sweden is still in a serious security situation, where foreign powers are carrying out extensive security-threatening activities against Sweden. However, these activities are not assessed to be primarily associated with traditional terrorist attacks.

“Traditional violent extremism has decreased, and the attack threat is no longer as high, although the serious security situation remains. Changes can occur quickly and, if there is a need to change the terrorist threat level, I will not hesitate to issue a new decision in the matter in the future,” says Charlotte von Essen, Head of the Swedish Security Service.

Facts about the terrorist threat level

The terrorist threat level is based on a strategic and long-term assessment produced by the National Centre for Terrorist Threat Assessment (NCT).

The threat level scale:

• No identified threat (1)
• Low threat (2)
• Elevated threat (3)
• High threat (4)
• Very high threat (5)