Spain has recommended to the Spaniards who plan to travel to Sweden soon to exercise caution, after the Swedish authorities have raised the terrorist threat level to the second highest. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, directed by José Manuel Albares, has updated the travel recommendations to report that “the Swedish authorities consider that Sweden has moved from from being a ‘legitimate’ terrorist target to being a ‘priority’ target, with an increase in the possibilities of attacks in the country, for which extreme attention and caution are recommended”.

Although they have not given many details, the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, announced at a press conference that several “terrorist attacks” that had been planned on Swedish soil had been thwarted, which is why his security services have raised the alert. This update to the terror alert level comes shortly after a group of activists publicly burned several copies of the Koran. This, in turn, caused a wave of protests and boycotts of products from the Scandinavian country from various Muslim countries in response.

To date, Sweden remained at a terrorist alert level 3, out of five possible, but both the Security Service (SAPO) and the Armed Forces have decided raise it to level 4, which implies that the risk of attacks is high. The two institutions have avoided giving details of the exact reasons for this change. The head of the SAPO, Charlotte von Essen, clarified that it does not depend on a single fact, but is part of a broader and long-term analysis, although she cited as factors that have contributed to increased risk the military offensive launched by Russia on Ukraine and disinformation campaigns.

Also, recently Al Qaeda issued a statement calling for attacks in the Scandinavian country. Both Sweden and Denmark have tightened border controls for fear of possible attacks. From the United States they have also warned their citizens about the possibility of traveling to Sweden, asking for maximum caution.

How to be prepared for a terrorist attack

Although “the probability of being in a terrorist attack” in Sweden is very low, the Swedish Police have recommended to its citizens a series of recommendations for action in that case. The head of the National Anti-Terrorism Council of the Police, Jonas Hysing, insists that this situation is “improbable”, but at the point it is vital to take this advice into account since, they indicate, the “consequences could be very serious”.

  • run away (if you can): If you think you may be the target of an attack, if possible you have to leave the location. It is advisable to check where the emergency exits are located in the places you go to.
  • Hide (if you can’t run away): in the event that it is impossible to leave the place, look for a safe place that can provide you with protection; pay attention to what you see and hear; silence your phone and do not make unnecessary callsnor to people who may be present in the danger zone.
  • Call 911: call 112 as soon as possible and provide as much information as possible: location, situation, how many suspects there are, what they are like and where they were last seen.
  • Follow the instructions of the Police: when the authorities arrive in the area, listen to what they say and try to make sure that don’t be mistaken for a suspect. For this, for example, avoid having anything in your hands that could be mistaken for a weapon.