Indictment for preparation of a terrorist crime in Sweden and attempted murder in Germany

“We believe we have prevented an attack in Kungsträdgården in Stockholm, which the 18-year-old planned to carry out. The attack was intended to take place during the Culture Festival in August, where many people were gathered,” says Deputy Chief Prosecutor Henrik Olin.

The preparations allegedly took place between 1 August, 2024, and 11 February this year in Skåne and Stockholm. According to the investigation, the 18-year-old conducted reconnaissance at the intended crime scene, handled components for manufacturing explosives, purchased clothing adapted for the act, and acquired a body camera.

“The investigation shows that he carefully planned how the act would be carried out and how the attack would be documented and publicized afterward. The purpose was to carry out an attack in the name of the Islamic State. The criminal act could have seriously harmed Sweden,” says Senior Prosecutor Carl Mellberg.

According to the indictment, the two men planned to murder a man in a small town in southern Germany on 14 August, 2024. They travelled to Germany from Sweden, armed themselves with a knife, and scouted the intended victim’s residence, where they knocked on the door. Another person opened the door, causing the murder plans to be aborted.

The men are also charged with participation in a terrorist organisation, gross crime.

“They have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State, and the investigation shows that the 18-year-old had instructions on how to build and use explosive devices intended for terrorist acts. The crime is considered gross because IS constitutes a particularly dangerous terrorist organisation,” says Henrik Olin.

The 18-year-old is also charged with preparation for an offense under the act on flammable and explosive goods, a serious crime, as well as training for terrorism, gross crime.

The preliminary investigation has been conducted by the Swedish Security Service under the direction of prosecutors at the National Security Unit.

Case number in Stockholm District Court: B 2819-25.

The trial will take place at Stockholm District Court starting Tuesday, November 11.

After today´s press conference, the prosecutors will not be available to the media until the verdict has been announced by the court.

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