Swedish terror suspect being held

Stefan Lofven’s statement came a day after Swedish security police raised the terror threat level and said they were hunting a man suspected of planning an attack.

Anders Thornberg, Director General of Säpo, called a press conference yesterday evening telling reporters that a person suspected of plotting a terror attack had been “arrested in absentia”, meaning police were still looking for him.

Sweden on Wednesday raised its national terror threat status to “high”, the second-highest level on a five-point scale, following an assessment by the National Centre for Terrorist Threat Assessment (NCT). Level four indicates a high threat with players who have the intent and means to carry out an attack. Sweden has been on high alert since attacks took place in Paris on Friday and killing at least 129 local people in a wave that were claimed by the ISIS(Islamic State militants group).

Mr Thornberg told reporters: “We’re at an intensive operative stage and are working to analyse the information”.

Prosecutors have also started a preliminary investigation into preparations to commit terrorism.

On Wednesday, Sweden’s Security Police (SAPO) said they had concrete information about a possible attack.

It did not elaborate but a news conference was planned for later Wednesday.

Sweden over the last few years has participated in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation missions in Afghanistan and are training Kurdish forces in Iraq, moves that have changed its traditional image of neutrality.

Meanwhile, police in neighbouring Norway have also been advised to be on the lookout for the suspect, news agency NTB reported. According to the translation provided by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, Wallstrom answered: “Obviously, we have reason to be anxious, not just in Sweden but across the world, because there are so many that are being radicalized”.