Terror alert in the EU - Sweden target image: "Perfect storm"

 

The terrorist threat against Sweden  

 

Demoskop: Every second Swede worried about a terrorist attack  

 

Nelly Kronstrand 

Published 2023-08-25 

  

In the wake of Koran burnings and the heightened terror threat, fear has increased in Sweden.  

 

Now, every second Swede is concerned that a terrorist act will occur.

   

This is shown by a new survey from Aftonbladet/Demoskop. 

  

Every second Swede (51%) is worried about a possible terrorist attack in Sweden.  

 

This shows a survey from Aftonbladet/Demoskop. The figures come just days after the terror threat level in the country was raised from 3 to 4 - the first time since 2016. 

 

– Säpo can state that we are in a deteriorating situation and that this threat will continue for a longer period of time, said Charlotte von Essen, head of the Security Police, during a press conference on Friday. 

 

Increased trust in the state 

 

The recent figures show a big difference between men and women.  

 

More than half of women (60 percent) feel anxious - while the majority of men do not.  

 

Something that stands out from the results of the survey is that people who vote for the Sweden Democrats (54%) and the Social Democrats (53%) feel a sense of concern. 

 

The survey also asked respondents about their confidence in the state's ability to prevent terrorist attacks.  

 

Which turns out to have increased to from 30 to 38 percent compared to February 2023. But, young people and people who vote for the Moderates have the highest trust. 

 

Sweden Democrats and pensioners have the least confidence. 

 

Charlotte von Essen, head of the security police, recently announced that the terror threat level in Sweden has been raised to a four. Photo: Lotte Fernvall 
 

Varying concerns  

 

Swedes' concerns have been mapped by Demoskop since 2015.  

 

At the time, 41% were worried that a terrorist attack would happen after the shooting at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's editorial office, when twelve people were shot dead. 

 

Since then, concerns have varied over the years.  

 

It was at its highest after the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin in 2016 (55%) and in August 2017 (55%) a few months after the madness and the crime on Drottninggatan in Stockholm. 

 

Säpo: Pay attention  

 

This week, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) stated that planned acts of terrorism against Sweden have been averted in recent times.  

 

At the same time, Säpo urges people to continue living their lives as usual.  

 

- I understand that it can cause concern. But our message is that you should live as usual but be attentive and aware of the information the authorities communicate, said Charlotte von Essen at the press conference.  

 

 

FACTS 

About investigation  

The survey was carried out by Demoskop on behalf of Aftonbladet within the framework of the Inizio panel, which reflects the Swedish people. The target group is the general public aged 16 and over.  

 

The survey includes 1,069 interviews during the period 15–20 August 2023 and is conducted as a web survey. The sample is pre-stratified and weighted by age and gender.