ISIS Attacks In Sweden? Security Officials Investigating Possible Threat To Stockholm

Officials in Sweden said Tuesday they were looking into a potential terrorist threat after the media reported that Iraqi authorities had tipped off the Swedish security agency about possible attacks in capital Stockholm. The security agency, known as SAPO, said it was “working to assess information.”

Swedish newspaper Expressen reported, citing sources, that the Iraqi secret service told SAPO that seven or eight militants from the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, had traveled to Sweden, the Associated Press reported. The newspaper further reported that SAPO had sent people to Iraq to collect more information.

“We are currently collecting information and intelligence and have taken some measures. We collaborate with partners, both nationally and internationally,” SAPO's press service said, according to Sputnik News, adding that the tip-off could be dismissed.

The press service did not elaborate over the possible threat, but said that the information would not affect Sweden’s security situation. The threat level in Sweden will remain at elevated level three, on a scale of one to five, Sputnik reported, citing SAPO.

Countries across Europe have beefed up security following the March 22 Belgium attacks, which claimed lives of over 30 people, and the November 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130 people and injured hundreds.