"Suicide bombing" in Stockholm, Sweden.

[GRiM]

I guess it was only a matter of time before this happened here. I will try to collect as much Swedish original reporting as possible. I had a wishful thinking that Sweden would be outside and not be involved in the fun and games.

Translations are not perfect but I've corrected errors when found.

Stockholm shopping blasts kill one and injure two

One person has been killed and two others injured in two explosions that rocked the centre of the Swedish capital, Stockholm.

A car blew up near the busy shopping street of Drottninggatan and another blast followed nearby minutes later.

Swedish press attributed the second blast to a suicide bomber but police said no cause had yet been determined.

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said a "terrorist attack" which could have been "truly catastrophic" had failed.

Tweeting on the blasts, he described them as "most worrying".

A local news agency, TT, said it had received a threatening e-mail shortly before the blasts, which called for "mujahideen", or Islamist fighters, to rise up in Sweden and Europe.

Attacking the country over caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed drawn by Swedish artist Lars Vilks as well as Sweden's military presence in Afghanistan, the e-mail promised Swedes would "die like our brothers and sisters".

Sweden has 500 soldiers deployed in Afghanistan as part of the international peacekeeping force.

In November, the country raised its terror alert level from low to elevated because of a "shift in activities" among Swedish-based groups that could be plotting attacks.
'Pipe bombs'

Both blasts hit central Stockholm as the streets were busy with people out Christmas shopping.

The car exploded at 1700 (1600 GMT) and the second blast occurred 10 to 15 minutes later on a street about 300m (300yds) away, police spokesman Kjell Lindgren said.

A man was found dead near the site of the second explosion and two people with minor injuries were also found nearby.

Asked if the dead man had somehow blown himself up, Mr Lindgren said: "It is possible."

Unconfirmed reports in Sweden's Aftonbladet newspaper said the man was carrying pipe bombs, as well as a backpack full of nails.

Another police spokesman, Ulf Johansson, told the BBC police would not rush to judgement.

"We need more investigation and of course we need more witnesses to give us the information of what actually has happened," he said.

He said the car had contained gas canisters and had "exploded with a series of minor explosions".

The identities of the dead man and those injured have not been released.
'Stomach injury'

A former employee of the Associated Press news agency, Gabriel Gabiro, was close to the second blast.
"I saw some people crying, perhaps from the shock," he told the agency.

"There was a man lying on the ground with blood coming out in the area of his belly, and with his personal belongings scattered around him."

A trained medic named only as Pascal also said the man appeared to have a stomach injury.

"It looked as if the man had carried something that exploded in his stomach," he said on the website of newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

"He had no injuries to the face or body in general and the shops around were not damaged."

Man blew himself up with bombs
Supposed to have had a backpack full of spikes and bombs

The man who died in Bryggargatan blew himself to death.

He carried six interconnected pipe bombs but only one exploded.

He also had a backpack full of nails and a suspected explosive substance.

- Had it exploded at Queen Street had been a massacre, "says a source.

Police bomb technicians examined the dead man's bag by using a bomb robot. Radiographs show that it contained a large quantity of nails and an unknown substance which is suspected to be explosives.

Shouted in Arabic

According to witnesses on the ground should the man have shouted something in Arabic before the bomb detonated.

According to Aftonbladet the man died of a pipe bombs which he carried on the body. On the site they found five pipe bombs believed to have been connected in series. For some reason the cables were torn between charges of leaving only one of the pipe bombs exploded. It was almost certainly the one who took the man's life.

People were shocked

Some bystanders were shocked and had hearing loss when the explosive charge fired.

When Aftonbladet contacting SAPO, they refer all questions regarding the evening's explosions at Stockholm police. But the terror alert in Sweden has not changed during the day.

- In the case of preparedness, it is unchanged, "said Cathy Sevcik at Security Service press function.

No classification

Explosions in Stockholm was at midnight has not been deemed to be crimes, writes TT. Then bomb technicians are ready, it will be the forensic experts turn to examine the spot where the man died.

"Bomber did not act alone '

Terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp: He has probably had the support of groups abroad

The suicide bomber did not act alone.

According to terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp, he probably had the support of groups abroad.

- It is extremely worrying that the terror directed indiscriminately against civilians in Sweden. It is a new trend, "he says.

If the suicide bomber involved in any of these networks is too early to tell, says terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp.

But he has not acted alone.

- You do not sit at home and engaged himself to a video of abuses in Afghanistan or Iraq and think enough is enough, I go to the inner city of Stockholm and blow me in the air. There are other individuals who have assisted in the process. This individual is not acting himself.

You also need a psychological support to carry out a suicide attack.

- In my experience it would have been one thing if it's only been one car fires. But the self-assembling pipe bombs and sacrifice your life - I would be very surprised if he was not in contact with other individuals.

SAPO: "We have good control of the situation"

About ten minutes before the explosions sent a message and an audio file to the TT, also addressed to the Security Service, where a man turns to "Sweden and the Swedish people".

He refers to the Swedish silence on Lars Vilks paintings, the Swedish soldiers in Afghanistan, saying that "now is your children, daughters and sisters die same as our brothers and sisters and children are dying."

- Our actions will speak for themselves. As long as you do not stop your war against Islam and degrading to the Prophet and your stupid support for the pig Vilks, "says the man.
"Do not fear death"

Then the man calls all Muslims in Sweden to "stop suck up and humiliate you." He ends the message with yet another call for "all the mujahideen in Europe and Sweden":

- It's time to hit back, wait no longer. Come up with whatever you are although it is a knife and I know you have more than one knife to come by. Fear not, fear not a prison, do not fear death.
Where in the Middle East

There is nothing in the audio files of the man who speaks belong to any organization. However, he said he had been in the Middle East and he would ask his family for forgiveness because he lied to them.

- I never went to the Middle East to work or earn money, I went there for jihad, "said the man.

Vilks not worry

Helsingborgs Dagblad has talked to artist Lars Vilks who are not worried, although he mentioned in the letter to the Security Service and TT.

- Right now it's probably not any great danger, "Vilks told the hd.se.

He continues:

- The difference now in the past is that it wants to put collective responsibility and burden for the Swedish people that I have not punished, they want to intimidate the entire population
The same e-mail

The Security Service now confirms to Aftonbladet that they have the same email also sent to TT.

- It was added to our registry. It is submitted for verification to our administrators, "said Michael Gunn, officer in charge of SAPO.

He would not comment on the content or who signed the email, but recognizes that it is the same email.

- I can see on the mailing list that, among other things has passed to us and said.
No one had time to see the email

None of the Security Police had time to see the email before the explosion in central Stockholm

Just over two months ago raised its terror preparedness SAPO.

- There is a specific threat in Sweden. But we are now at high levels means that we have good control over the situation. We say that there is no immediate threat, said SAPO Head Anders Danielsson then.
SAPO following investigation

Is this attack, coupled with the increase in the contingency that you did then?

- The interconnection unfortunately, I can not answer. The preliminary investigation is still pending before the Stockholm police. SAPO follow the investigation, "said Gunn.

Witness: "We were terrified"

- The whole house shook. We were terrified and went out and when we got to see a dead person on the street, "said eyewitness Tarja after mysterious explosions rocked central Stockholm on Saturday afternoon.

A man has died and at least one person has been taken to hospital after the explosions that occurred in the middle of Christmas shopping.

- We were on the balcony and smoked in small nearly Olof Palme street. We saw the smoke rising above the rooftops.

Five or ten minutes later, bang on Bryggargatan.

- The whole house shook. We were terrified and went out and when we got to see a dead person on the street. There were ambulance personnel and police officers there but they did nothing.

Several people witnessed the events, which thus appears to have begun with car-explosions on the corner Olof Palme street, Drottninggatan.
"blew up like hell"

- It blew up like hell. When we looked out we saw that it was a raging fire, "said one person who saw the explosion at Olof Palmes gata.

A few minutes after the explosion burned the remains as much. Another eyewitness said it sounded like a car bomb that exploded:

- I stood about one hundred, one hundred and fifty meters away when the template. The fire is still very strong. Here are lots of police and barriers.

Here is a map of were it happened.

 

[GRiM]

Terror expert: "We have been protected"
The man blew himself up before the shoppers of people in the middle of Stockholm.
The site is located not far from the Central(or central-station), where thousands of passengers moving.
And at the palace and began preparing for dinner with Nobel Guests.
The question is, what was his goal.
- It is quite obvious that he was moving to Queen Street or other location with a lot of people to kill as many people as possible, "said Magnus Ranstorp, terrorism expert at Defence Research Agency, FOI.

Sweden has previously been spared from terror attacks.
- Sweden has been a protected bay in a turbulent world, but that people now want to indiscriminately kill other is profoundly shocking, "said Magnus Ranstorp.
- As if to me it is extremely shocking that this happens in Stockholm. It's very extreme.
Heightened state of alert

In early October, raised its terror preparedness SAPO.
But:
- Currently, there is nothing to suggest that what happened in Stockholm, have no connection with it, "said one source with insight to the newspaper Expressen.
- What lies behind this becomes a matter of including NTC, "said one source.
NTC is the special analysis group consisting of experts from Must, FRA and Security Service. It was founded in 2008 and headed by a colonel who previously served at Must.
NTC shall, within the same source, they are convened yesterday. The analysis group is composed by a British model and has its own information channels in Europe and beyond.
The group is now making analysis

The group is now making an analysis and submits it to the police, Security Service and other agencies.
The letter to the Security Service claims the hitherto unidentified person that he traveled to the Middle East "for jihad." It may be that contrary to the Islamic religion, a holy war.
In Afghanistan and Pakistan there since the 90s a number of training camps where Europeans, including Swedes, traveled to get military training.
- The camps have existed since the early 1990's. Those who get there, weapons training and practiced in particular, how to supervise people and blast techniques, "said Magnus Norell, a researcher and expert on international terrorism.

Without military background

SAPO has already confirmed that there are "a handful" of Swedes who were in such camps and among other things learned bomb-making.
- Usually, the methods are simple because there is the issue of persons who have military backgrounds, "said Magnus Norell.
Pipe bombs is one example of such a type of bomb that is easy to manufacture. He describes it as relatively easy to obtain information about the camps but it is not easy to get there.
- You can find information on various chat rooms and in other ways, and then contacted you. But this is an activity that is increasingly monitored by the authorities, "he says.
Above all, London has become a hub for Europeans joining the training camps. Swedes who have returned from training camps in several cases approached by SAPO when they return home.

M.U.S.T = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Military_Intelligence_and_Security_Service

F.R.A = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_National_Defence_Radio_Establishment

N.T.C = National Terrorism Center ? Cant find anything about this group. Don't seem to have a online presence.

Blew up too early
First, exploded his car.
Twelve minutes later, fired at least one of the bombs he wore on the body.
According to police suspicions are car owner and the suicide bomber the same person.
- It has been linked to the one sent to the Security Service and the TT, "said a police source.
The message that was sent to TT and SAPO asking the sender their relatives on the pretext that he lied to them about the purpose of a trip to the Middle East.

Two men stood talking in the corner of Drottninggatan Bryggargatan and just before 17 yesterday morning while carrying his sign that advertised the different shops and restaurant at Bryggargatan.
They were separated then. One of them stood on the corner, the other went down on Bryggargatan.
Seconds later heard an explosion. Police got the alarm at 17:02.
Next to the dead is a sign that advertises a special offer on "Fish and chips".
Police suspect now that the suicide bomber is one of the two sign-carriers, according to Expressen's source.
Expressen was yesterday contacted by a source that is virtually certain that he knows who the dead man on Bryggargatan are:
- I'm 95 percent sure this is the man who use to stand here and carry signs.
- I've seen him here for two or three years.
"I went for jihad '

The message that was sent to TT yesterday, says the male sender in the audio file that he does not belong to any organization. He also asks his relatives to apologize for having lied about a trip to the Middle East.
- I never went to the Middle East to work or earn money, I went there for jihad, "said the man, according to TT.
On his Facebook page has been owner of the car that blew up a profile picture that depicts two people, including one carrying the al-Qaida's black flag. The car owner has also posted pictures of himself, during a trip to Jordan last spring.
On the side there are several violent youtube-elements, including a sequence showing a martyr who dies before the camera after being damaged.
Wrote on Facebook

In late November, he wrote on Facebook:
"God take my life when you are pleased with me. God grant me honesty, word and deed. God, I dedicate all my actions to you. God keep me away from falsehood".
According to Expressen, police suspect that the message to TT and SAPO has been linked to the suicide bomber.
- But it is unclear whether it was he himself who sent the message, "says the source.
The police theory is that the bomb on his body detonated prematurely, that the goal was to blow up with other people in the middle of Christmas shopping.
- He was on his way to a populous place.
Police hunt now the man who should have stood and talked with the suspected suicide bomber.
- He disappeared quickly from the scene, "said one witness.
"Not Identified"

Police press spokesperson is taciturn[/of few words.]
- We have not identified the dead man yet, "says Petra Sjölander the Stockholm police.
Several eyewitnesses told Expressen about the powerful explosion.
- The smoke of him and felt the smell of explosives, "said eyewitness Carl continues:
- I saw two people beside him. One who tugged him and one who ran away.
Beside the man lay a bag and an object which, according to witnesses, may be a pipe bombs. According to sources, the bag filled with nails.
- Pipe bombs were four to five inches thick around. The man also had a vest on it, "said the witness.
"It does not benefit Islam"

The Chairman of the Swedish Committee for the knowledge of the Prophet Mohammed, Hassan Mousa, condemned the attack.
- This is purely a terrorist and criminal act.
- It promotes the extremists on both sides. It does not benefit Islam and Muslims in Sweden on the contrary.
- Who told him that he will go to heaven if he commits a suicide attack? It is only God who knows who goes to heaven. We condemn the attack and we fear that this may lead to more violence.

Picture: http://imgur.com/ffhI9.jpg of explosions, contains one body.

 

[GRiM]

Just to add a update.

Was SÄPO in place before the firing took place?

Ronny Svensson (movie critic) was sitting in a pub next to the burning car and stated on TV4, a moment ago that an "undercover guy who identified himself as a painter

SÄPO-police "came in and asked the people at the pub to stay and not go out, soon after the explosion occurred at Bryggargatan.

This was posted on Sweden's biggest newspaper and with all what that implies.

"Very credible source"

A defense employee sent a few hours before the bombings in Stockholm a warning to an acquaintance that something serious could happen on Drottninggatan.

This, according to TT who said his source as "very credible".

The defense denies.

- It is the official commentary related. Armed Forces had no knowledge of any plans for the incident in advance, and if we had it we had provided the information to the security police, "said press secretary Roger Magnegård to Aftonbladet.

Defence CIO Erik Stone Stocks Earlier in the evening given the same information in a comment.

Wilhelm Agrell, professor of intelligence analysis, said, however, when TT was talking to him earlier on Sunday that Swedish intelligence agencies may have known that something was going on.

- A warning is a moving concept and not an absolute. Alerts can consist of very precise information as possible to act, but it is common that the warnings are more diffuse, which is not possible to act on.
Not act on vague data

He says if police intervene at all, for vague data may be opportunities to discover what is actually happening, and possibly find accomplices destroyed.

- That's always a balance. But I am convinced that neither the police or intelligence services were deliberately sit with their arms so they can intervene.

According to Agrell collaborate the various intelligence agencies and share information.

- The situation will not arise where the information will be suspended by an authority, "he says.

TT spoke on Saturday evening with John Daniels, Head of Security in the Military Intelligence and Security Service (Must). He would not comment on the events surrounding the Queen Street but referred all questions to the SAPO.
"Frosty relations"

Dennis Töllborg, professor of jurisprudence, will be very surprised when he hears reports that a Defence employee sent a warning to an acquaintance that something serious could happen on Queen Street on Saturday afternoon.

- I am not so sure this data, but are they true, it is very serious, "he said.

Töllborg says that previously, the relations between the Swedish intelligence agencies have been frosty, but in his opinion, they have improved in recent years.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt declines, through his press officer Roberta Alenius, to comment on the indication that someone in the Armed Forces warned to stay on Queen Street.

 

[rylek]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere:

Military staffer knew about attacks: report

Published: 12 Dec 10 20:06 CET

A Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) employee warned an acquaintance to stay clear of an area in central Stockholm on Saturday where, several hours later, two explosions went off in what is being called a terrorist attack.

* Stockholm attack follows terror warnings (12 Dec 10)
* Witnesses tell of Stockholm bomb terror (11 Dec 10)
* One dead after suicide bombing in Stockholm (11 Dec 10)

“If you can, avoid Drottninggatan today. A lot can happen there…just so you know,” the message said, according to the TT news agency.

Armed Forces spokesperson Jonas Svensson told TT on Sunday he was unaware of the message.

“I haven’t heard about this at all. Now I’m going to check out the information,” he told TT when confronted with the news.

Later the Swedish military said it was now “preparing how the issue will be dealt with”.

“The Swedish Armed Forces did not know ahead of time about the plans or the circumstances surrounding the events which have taken place. If that had been the case, (Swedish security service) Säpo, which is the responsible agency in these types of cases, would have been informed immediately,” said military spokesperson Erik Lagersten in a statement.

Swedish intelligence agencies may have known that something was in the works, Wilhelm Agrell, a professor in intelligence analysis, told TT.

“A warning is a slippery term and nothing concrete. Warnings can consist of very precise information that can be acted on, but it’s common that warnings are more diffuse and can’t be acted on,” Agrell said.

On Saturday night, TT spoke with John Daniels, head of security for Swedish military intelligence agency MUST. But he refused to comment, instead directing all inquiries to Säpo.

Säpo said on Sunday it was taking over the investigation of the two blasts, which occurred within minutes of one another and about 200 metres apart on Drottninggatan, a busy shopping street in central Stockholm.

The agency considers the explosions to be a terrorist crime.

One man believed to be a suicide bomber was killed in the second blast, while the first explosion injured two others.

Shortly before the explosions, Säpo and the TT news agency received a message from a 29-year-old man from southern Sweden who claimed that the prophet Mohammed was being degraded.

http://www.thelocal.se/30794/20101212/

 

[GRiM]

FBI experts to help Swedish police
Publicerat: monday 13 december kl 17:22, Radio Sweden

The US has send a group of seven FBI bomb experts to Stockholm to help with the investigation news agency TT reported Monday evening.

The FBI offered their services to the Swedish Intelligence Service and they accepted, said Minister of Justice Beatrice Ask.

“This is a good example of how international cooperation between national police offices works,” she added. “It is particularly important for a small country like Sweden that doesn’t have all the expertise.”

The group of experts has already arrived in Stockholm and they will help police with the forensic examination especially to trace the explosives. They also have knowledge of methods used by different terrorist groups around the world.

Also late on Monday chief prosecutor Thomas Lindstrand announced that he will be handing over the responsibility for the investigation to his colleague prosecutor Agneta Hilding Qvarnström.

He told news agency TT that it was mainly because he had prior engagements and not enough time.

 

[GRiM]

Friend says Stockholm bomber had Israeli girlfriend
By JPOST.COM STAFF
12/14/2010 12:37


A family friend of the Stockholm suicide bomber told the Telegraph Monday that the Iraqi-born Abdulwahab was not a radical prior to moving to Britain.

The friend said, "He didn't care about politics or religion," adding, "He even had an Israeli girlfriend. He had many girlfriends, he enjoyed life."

 

[Approaching Infinity]

Friend says Stockholm bomber had Israeli girlfriend
By JPOST.COM STAFF
12/14/2010 12:37


A family friend of the Stockholm suicide bomber told the Telegraph Monday that the Iraqi-born Abdulwahab was not a radical prior to moving to Britain.

The friend said, "He didn't care about politics or religion," adding, "He even had an Israeli girlfriend. He had many girlfriends, he enjoyed life."

One word: interesting.

 

[clerck de bonk]

Friend says Stockholm bomber had Israeli girlfriend
By JPOST.COM STAFF
12/14/2010 12:37


A family friend of the Stockholm suicide bomber told the Telegraph Monday that the Iraqi-born Abdulwahab was not a radical prior to moving to Britain.

The friend said, "He didn't care about politics or religion," adding, "He even had an Israeli girlfriend. He had many girlfriends, he enjoyed life."

One word: interesting.

Another word: honeytrap

 

[Joe]

Another three words "mind-programmed patsy"

 

[Approaching Infinity]

SOTT digest: all the news analysis you need, in five words or less.

 

[Jeremy F Kreuz]

Is it possible there is a link between this failed terrorist attack and the Accusations in Sweden against Assange of Wikileaks? Looking at previous failed terrorist attacks or threats in Europe there might be pattern

- UK gets a warning after British Airways complains about security measures at airports?
-Germany gets warning to push for Ireland bailout and not oppose the way they did when Greece needed a bailout?
-Sweden gets warning not to let Assange go?

Could be coincidence but this might be a pattern. fwiw

 

[GRiM]

Is it possible there is a link between this failed terrorist attack and the Accusations in Sweden against Assange of Wikileaks? Looking at previous failed terrorist attacks or threats in Europe there might be pattern

- UK gets a warning after British Airways complains about security measures at airports?
-Germany gets warning to push for Ireland bailout and not oppose the way they did when Greece needed a bailout?
-Sweden gets warning not to let Assange go?

Could be coincidence but this might be a pattern. fwiw

It may, but from my point of view it seems to be a reason to roll out a anti-terror climate in Sweden. I've never seen the politicians and security-police act this fast. They even released a 130 page report about terrorism in Sweden. This is 2 days after the event.

Btw, this is the quote on the first page:

”The attempt to find a unique explanation for
political violence is the same chance that you
succeed in the attempt to find an explanation
for holes”
della Porta (2009). Social movement studies
and political violence, s. 23