Per Wirtén: So terrorism has just come to Sweden? Get real
[Per Wirtén writes for several Swedish newspapers, and co-founded the progressive political magazine Arena.]
On Saturday, an Iraqi-born Swede, Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, from the small provincial town of Tranås, travelled to Stockholm to spread death among the houses there. For the next 24 hours we all thought the same thing: suppose he hadn't fumbled with his tailpipe bombs. Suppose all six he was wearing had exploded, not just one. In public comments and in private conversations, we heard the same surprise that such a thing could happen here. Magnus Ranstorp, an expert on terrorism based at the Swedish National Defence College, said that "Sweden has before this been a sheltered bay in a world full of storms."
I don't understand. What distinguishes Sweden nowadays is not the absence of political violence but its presence. Two leading politicians – Olof Palme and Anna Lindh – have been murdered in the centre of the city, one shopping, one walking to the cinema. Swedish soldiers patrol the roads of Afghanistan. Other Swedish citizens go out into the world to join jihadi groups and die for their convictions. Ten years ago we handed over two Egyptians to terrorist hunters and torture chambers. How long is it possible to remain surprised?..
Read entire article at Guardian (UK)
On Saturday, an Iraqi-born Swede, Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, from the small provincial town of Tranås, travelled to Stockholm to spread death among the houses there. For the next 24 hours we all thought the same thing: suppose he hadn't fumbled with his tailpipe bombs. Suppose all six he was wearing had exploded, not just one. In public comments and in private conversations, we heard the same surprise that such a thing could happen here. Magnus Ranstorp, an expert on terrorism based at the Swedish National Defence College, said that "Sweden has before this been a sheltered bay in a world full of storms."
I don't understand. What distinguishes Sweden nowadays is not the absence of political violence but its presence. Two leading politicians – Olof Palme and Anna Lindh – have been murdered in the centre of the city, one shopping, one walking to the cinema. Swedish soldiers patrol the roads of Afghanistan. Other Swedish citizens go out into the world to join jihadi groups and die for their convictions. Ten years ago we handed over two Egyptians to terrorist hunters and torture chambers. How long is it possible to remain surprised?..