Sweden Accuses Iran of Using Criminal Networks as Proxies to Target Israeli or Jewish Interests

Copenhagen: Sweden's domestic security agency on Thursday accused Iran of using established criminal networks in Sweden as a proxy to target Israeli or Jewish interests in Scandinavian country. accusations were raised at a news conference by Daniel Stenling, he of SAPO agency's counterespionage unit, following a series of events earlier this year.

In late January, Israeli Embassy in Stockholm was sealed off after what was n described as “a dangerous object” was found on grounds of diplomatic mission in an eastern Stockholm neighborhood. Swedish media said object was a hand grene.

embassy was not evacuated and object was eventually destroyed. No arrests were me and authorities did not say what was found. On May 17, gunshots were heard near Israeli Embassy in Stockholm and area was cordoned off. No one was arrested.

Stenling said, without offering specifics or evidence to back up his assertion, that agency "can establish that criminal networks in Sweden are used as a proxy by Iran.”

“It is very much about planning and attempts to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish interests, goals and activities in Sweden," he said and ded that agency sees "connections between criminal individuals in criminal networks and individuals who are connected to Iranian security services.”

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer and Hampus Nygårds, deputy he of Swedish police's National Operations Department, were also at online news conference with Stenling.

“We see this connection between Iranian intelligence services, security services and precisely criminals in criminal networks in Sweden," Stenling said. “We see that connection and it also means that we need to work much more internationally to get to crimes and be able to prevent m.”

Stenling and ors me no mention of recent incidents connected to Israel Embassy and stopped short of naming any criminal groups or suspects.

Sweden has grappled with gang violence for years and criminal gangs often recruit teenagers in socially disvantaged immigrant neighborhoods to carry out hits.

By May 15, police have recorded 85 shootings so far this year, including 12 fatal shootings. Last year, 53 people were killed and 109 were wounded in a total of 363 shootings.

Two main gangs — Foxtrot network heed by Rawa Majid, who lives in exile in Turkey, and its rival, Rumba — have for years been involved in dely feuds. Ankara h rejected Sweden’s request to have Majid, a Swedish citizen, extrited because he also holds Turkish citizenship.

Stenling said re was no reason to change terror threat level in Sweden.

Last year, it was heightened to “high,” fourth of five levels, for first time since 2016 as security deteriorated after public burnings of Islam's holy book, Quran, that triggered protests in Muslim world.