STOCKHOLM, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) — Swedish police said Friday they had launched an operation to strengthen security in the capital Stockholm after security services reported an increase in threats against the country.
Security will therefore be increased at “symbolically important” objects, says a police source to Sweden’s Television (SVT).
According to a statement published on the Security Service’s website on Wednesday, “the reaction to the burning of a Koran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm in January has been significant.”
“This development means that violent Islamist circles globally are currently focusing more on Sweden,” the statement said, adding that the terror threat level is still elevated but could be raised further “if this development continues.”
On February 5, the US Embassy in Sweden issued a statement warning US citizens in the country of “possible retaliatory terrorist attacks” and urging them to exercise caution in public places frequented by large numbers of people.
In January, Swedish police approved a protest in which a far-right politician burned a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
Source: sn.dk