• Sweden's news in English
 

Fears up to 300 Swedes fighting with Isis

AFP/The Local · 23 Nov 2014, 12:07

Published: 23 Nov 2014 12:07 GMT+01:00

"A hundred cases of people who have left to join the fighting have been confirmed, then there are the presumed cases..., and then there are those that have not been counted, which brings the total to between 250 and 300," said the head of the intelligence services, Anders Thornberg, on Sveriges Radio.

Thornberg said the flow of youths leaving to become jihadists in Syria was rapidly rising.

"A certain number of young Swedish men are leaving and training in camps, learning to become terrorists to use explosives and weapons," he said.

"They're going beyond the limits of human behaviour," he said. "They're fighting and killing other people."

On their return to Sweden, some are seen as ready to commit terrorist acts at home and have been placed under strict surveillance, the intelligence official added.

Sweden announced late October that it would pass a law banning citizens from taking part in foreign armed conflicts.

The previous month, the EU coordinator for anti-terrorism, Gilles de Kerchove, estimated that 3,000 Europeans have joined the ultra-hardline Islamic State group, which has caused global revulsion with its regular videotaped beheadings of hostages.

For more news from Sweden, join us on Facebook and Twitter.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

Your comments about this article

Today's headlines
Trollhättan school attack
Three dead, two hurt in Swedish school attack
Tributes left outside the school in Trollhättan on Thursday. Photo: Adam Ihse/TT

Three dead, two hurt in Swedish school attack

0 minutes ago

UPDATED: The suspect behind a stabbing spree at a school in west Sweden has been confirmed dead. A teenager and a teacher also died and two others remain in hospital.

Trollhättan school attack
Five crucial facts about attack at Swedish school
A mother and child leaving the school. Photo: Björn Larsson Rosvall/TT

Five crucial facts about attack at Swedish school

0 minutes ago

Swedes are in shock after a teacher and a pupil died and two others were injured in an attack at a school in western Sweden. The suspect also died. The Local looks at the key facts.

Air gun delays Swedish Prince's prize ceremony
Prince Carl Philip seen with Princess Sofia earlier this year. Mikael Fritzon/TT

Air gun delays Swedish Prince's prize ceremony

0 minutes ago

Sweden's Prince Carl Philip was delayed from arriving at the Swedish Medical Association where he was set to award scholarships on Thursday, after a "suspicious object" which turned out to be an airgun was found in the area.

Refugee crisis
Sweden doubles refugee arrival forecast for 2015
Refugees arriving in Stockholm. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Sweden doubles refugee arrival forecast for 2015

0 minutes ago

UPDATED: Up to 190,000 asylum seekers are expected to arrive in Sweden in 2015, more than twice as many as previously predicted, the country's Migration Agency announced on Thursday morning.

Nordic Noir
Comic books to draw new Millennium spin off
The stars of the original Swedish film adaptation of the books. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Comic books to draw new Millennium spin off

0 minutes ago

Stieg Larsson’s Millennium books are reported to be getting a second alternative ending in a set of new comic books, months after David Lagercrantz published a controversial sequel to the Swedish trilogy.

Refugee crisis
Fresh arson fears as refugee home burns
Firefighters at the scene on Thursday morning. Photo:Björn Lindgren/TT

Fresh arson fears as refugee home burns

0 minutes ago

UPDATED: Emergency services were called to a former retirement home in southern Sweden overnight to tackle the latest in a string of fires at temporary facilities for refugees.

What's on in Sweden
Five retro spots to time hop in Sweden this week
Fancy Lindy hopping back to the 1930s? Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

Five retro spots to time hop in Sweden this week

0 minutes ago

As the world celebrates the 80s Back to the Future 2 movie, set in October 2015, here are five fun retro places where you can experience a blast from the past, as well as our usual interactive guide to the best events and activities across Sweden.

Refugee crisis
'Sweden is approaching the limit of its capacity'
Stefan Löfven visiting a refugee centre in Trelleborg on Wednesday. Photo: Drago Prvulovic/TT

'Sweden is approaching the limit of its capacity'

0 minutes ago

Sweden is reaching maximum capacity for accepting refugees, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven said as he visited a centre for asylum seekers in Trelleborg.

Interview
Swede turns one krona church into dream home
The church near Landskrona. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Swede turns one krona church into dream home

0 minutes ago

Property prices in Sweden may have doubled over the last 10 years, but there are still opportunities to get a real bargain in the countryside. Dennis Toth tells The Local how he renovated an old church he bought for just one Swedish krona.

Startups
Stockholm third best in Europe for startups
Startups at the Sthlm Tech Fest conference earlier this year. Photo: Magnus Hjalmarson Neideman/SvD/TT

Stockholm third best in Europe for startups

0 minutes ago

Stockholm was ranked among the top three best European cities for startups in a survey on Wednesday which praised the Nordic country for its English skills and digital infrastructure.

Sponsored Article
VIDEO: Swedes 'know more about sex' than Brits
Gallery
People-watching: October 21st
Sponsored Article
Why you should study at Stockholm University
National
Sweden set for 'extreme' winter
Gallery
IN PICTURES: Your best snaps of autumn in Sweden
Blog updates

22 October

10 small tips to help refugees (Joel Sherwood) »

" Right now it’s all about trying to help refugees. Like a lot of people, I’ve been looking..." READ »

 

16 October

Editor’s blog, October 16th (The Local Sweden) »

"Hi readers, Our most read story this week was about the first emergency clinic on the planet..." READ »

 
 
 
Sponsored Article
The A-Ö guide to making life in Sweden easier
National
Swedish refugee homes kept 'secret' after fire attacks
Sponsored Article
Stockholm International School: helping expat students feel at home
Startups
$1bn boost for Swedish tech scene
Sponsored Article
Why women choose to study at Stockholm School of Economics
Gallery
Property of the week: Dalhem, Gotland
Business & Money
Why is Stockholm growing faster than any other city in Europe?
National
Isis graffiti sparks fear among Syrians in Gothenburg
Gallery
People-watching: October 16th-18th
National
Sweden opens world's first centre for male rape victims
National
How did 1,000 children go missing in Sweden?
Culture
Will you read the next two Swedish Millennium books?
National
Swedish royal couple expecting baby
Travel
The secret to more travel for less
Sport
Nordic teams jostle for places in France's Euro 2016
National
Swedish Lapland ski complex to become refugee hub
National
Timeline: Julian Assange sex claims
Gallery
People-watching: October 14th
Society
VIDEO: Dancing tampon song to teach Swedish kids about periods
National
Who dumped 900kg of German sauerkraut in a small Swedish town?
Society
Should Swedish fashion firms use hijab models?
National
How a gang of Swedish hipsters got mistaken for Isis supporters
Gallery
Property of the week: Umeå
3,328
jobs available
PSD Media
PSD Media is marketing company that offers innovative solutions for online retailers. We provide modern solutions that help increase traffic and raise conversion. Visit our site at:
psdmedia.se