• Sweden edition

Four Swedes in Pakistan terror probe

Published: 14 Sep 09 16:51 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/22076/20090914/

Sweden's foreign ministry confirmed on Monday that four Swedish citizens - three adults and a child - are being held in Islamabad, where Pakistani authorities are investigating whether the group has ties to terrorist network Al-Qaeda.

The ministry had previously received information from Pakistan that three Swedes were under arrest.

The group of four includes a woman and small child, arrested on suspicion of having ties with Al-Qaeda, Pakistani officials said on Monday.

Mehdi Ghezali -- a Swedish citizen who was arrested in Afghanistan after the 2001 US-led invasion and spent two years in Guantanamo Bay -- was among the 12 foreigners arrested last month in Pakistan, a security official said.

The group's members were detained at Dera Ghazi Khan, on the border between Pakistan's central Punjab and North West Frontier Province, where government troops have fought against encroaching Taliban militants.

"Authorities at the Punjab-NWFP border on August 28, arrested a group of 12 foreigners including Swedish, Turkish and Russian nationals," the official said. The group entered Pakistan from Iran, he added.

"The suspects are being questioned about their links with Al-Qaeda," the official said on condition of anonymity.

A Swedish woman with a two-and-half-year-old boy were among those arrested, who said they were Muslim preachers going to teach in South Waziristan, a known hub of Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan's tribal belt.

"Police seized CDs, currency, maps, literature and other material from their possession," he said. A laptop and $10,000 were also seized from one of the suspects, the official said.

The suspects were taken to Islamabad for further investigation, the official said.

Asked whether Ghezali and other foreigners held at Dera Ghazi Khan had links with Al-Qaeda, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was quoted as saying by state news agency APP that they were "all under investigation."

Dera Ghazi Khan district's police chief told AFP the foreigners had valid travel documents, but were arrested because they had entered a prohibited zone where Pakistani nuclear facilities are located.

"There were three Swedes, seven Turkish and one Russian in the group," Rizwan Akhtar said. An Iranian man was also among those detained, police said.

TT/AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

17:29 September 14, 2009 by Palestinian
Strange!

There is some thing written about Islam above!

Usually there are many losers who start directly to scream as a mad hungry homeless street dogs!

I wonder if they will start soon!!

Come on and ask Sweden to stop Muslims in streets and shoot them between eyes!
18:12 September 14, 2009 by antoniolgj
@Palestinian

I'm trying to understand what you are trying to say, so I can reply/comment, but unfortunately your English/grammar is quite bad, so your phrases are not making any sense. Do you have any friend with better English skills, so you could ask him/her to check your message before post it? That would be nice.

@Eurostan

There you are again trying to cross the line. For us, your culture is not better than Islam, mate. Don't forget the line...
20:08 September 14, 2009 by Tony Ryals
'here for the summer'stated on Guantanamo Swede arrested in Pakistan board that 'all terrorists are Islamic'.Here's my reply:

First note recent guilty or defensive response to Aftonbladet article and 9/11 by Israeli Ambassador to Sweden.Then story on Israelis who knew events of 9/11 ahead of time.Also 'here for summer' ignores it appears to be a European mafia who highjacked that boat off the Swedish coast that Israeli PM and the Russians have been so interested in NOT Islamic terrorists !And I'm not defending Islam. In truth I wish I never heard anymore about Judeo-christian-Ilamo religious bs in this lifetime.

http://www.doomdaily.com/2009/israel-and-us-jointly-target-sweden-in-propaganda-blitzkrieg/

Israel's ambassador in Stockholm, Benny Dagan, when asked by a Swedish

reporter why Israel did not investigate the Aftonbladet report on

organ harvesting, replied with an unusual answer: "Why don't we

investigate why the Mossad and the Jews were behind the bombing of the

twin towers?"....

A Mossad surveillance team made quite a public spectacle of themselves on 9-11.

The New York Times reported Thursday that a group of five men had set

up video cameras aimed at the Twin Towers prior to the attack on

Tuesday, and were seen congratulating one another afterwards.

Police received several calls..claiming "middle-eastern" men with a

white van were videotaping the disaster with shouts of joy and

mockery.

"They were like happy, you know … They didn't look shocked to me" ..

[T]hey were seen by New Jersey residents on Sept. 11 making fun of the

World Trade Center ruins..

Dispatcher: Jersey City police.

Caller: Yes, we have a white van, 2 or 3 guys in there, they look like Palestinians and going around a building.

Caller: There's a minivan heading toward the Holland tunnel, I see the guy by Newark Airport mixing some junk and he has those sheikh

uniform.

He has what?

He's dressed like an Arab.

....the suspicious "middle-easterners" were apprehended. Imagine the surprise of the police officers when these

terror suspects turned out to be Israelis!

According to ABC's 20/20..the driver of the van, Sivan Kurzberg, told the officers:

"We are Israelis...The Palestinians are your problem."

Why did he feel Palestinians were a problem for the NYPD?...

..the New York Post, and the New Jersey Bergen Record all clearly and

unambiguously reported that a white van with Israelis was intercepted

on a ramp near Route 3, which leads directly to the Lincoln Tunnel...

A few days after the attacks, Urban Moving System's Israeli owner,

Dominick Suter, dropped his business and fled the country for

Israel....

Several of the detainees discussed their experience in America on an

Israeli talk show after their return home. Said one of the men,..,

'Our purpose was to document the event."
23:06 September 14, 2009 by Palestinian
antoniolgj

This is typical you trying always to move the discussion from general to personal useless points.

I used English ( my fifth spoken language) all over the world and no one complained from misunderstanding!

May be all the people I met have higher IQ than you.

Language is a way of communication and not a grammar skills competition as I believe!
23:08 September 14, 2009 by wxman
You'd think four blonde, blue-eyed Swedes would have really stood out in a place like Pakistan! I wonder why it took so long to suspect them. These countries need to start profiling these Swedish terrorists more closely. Stop Swedish terrorism now, I say!
00:35 September 15, 2009 by Per Johansson52
Misguiding news!

It has just became a FASHION for news and Media to call a Child terrorist LOL.

Until it is proven by court nobody has right to publish their names and call them terrorist . it doesnt mean you if you travel to India or pakistan then you are terrorist.

most of us travel to thailand to have some nice massage :) they should call us sex pervert :=)

@Eurostan

it seems to me that you were raped by a Sheikh that you hate them so much right?
09:22 September 15, 2009 by alpha_bravo
@Eurostan .. quote

"radical islam is quite strong in swedish universities.

go and see in any swedish universities and observe closely. you can see many people with beards, veils, and doing prayers in the classrooms"

Education has done no good to you...living in sweden and among swedes has

once again not changed your pathetic thoughts and ideas (shame on you).

And if you are in so much pain and agony from muslims around you i would be

very disappointed if you are still living in sweden...

If we dont have any problems from them....whats your matter ? SHAME ON YOU
09:36 September 15, 2009 by asifbit
I believe that "Eurostan" is one of the terrorist. Terrorist is not only to kill people. Propaganda against other countries/religious is also a form of terror because with that you are enforcing people against some countries/religious and that is basically brain washing and a form of terror. I am pretty sure that he is an active member of anti Muslims/Pakistan agencies. I am also inspired by "Per Johansson52's" observation it might me correct that he has been raped by some Sheikh . The problem with these type of guys are that they actually don't know about anything at all. They only always blame others.
10:32 September 15, 2009 by benraph
@ Tony Ryalls, What an idiot you are. The ambassador answered the question like that because he was being cynical. The 3 people in NY were selling art, and yes they were Israeli, but definately not Mossad. And all the other things you have written have misrepresented reality with vile distortions which i notice you seem to put into alot of your posts. You must believe that if you keep repeating lies, people will believe them. This story had nothing to do with Israel or Israelis, I expect you have a hidden agenda.
12:08 September 15, 2009 by Eurostan
@per johansson52: a pakistani in disguise.

first change your name. guys got very angry.

go and see in any swedish universities and observe closely. you can see many people with beards, veils, and doing prayers in the classrooms"

is there any swedish university which is not applicable the above statement. instead of clarifying that you people are attacking me.

but it is 100% true. it is time to ban doing prayers in the university or in the middle of the exam or in the middle of the class .
12:52 September 15, 2009 by mehboob_umt
@Eurostan: What's wrong? If "many people with beards, veils, and doing prayers in the classrooms". I am sorry if you hurt.

@All: Please stop to passing comments on religion just focus on topic.
14:53 September 15, 2009 by Eurostan
@ mehboob_umt

i never be hurt in the discussion. it is good to have a debate. i dont know which country you came from. but in some countries there is a school uniform. all the children having same colour dress. the purpose of that is to prevent social break up of class on rich and poor , religion,region etc.

i am quite sure that there is break up of class on religiou lines if there are people with veils and beards and often they are doing prayer together.

again you people complain that muslims are discriminated and oppressed.

first dont discriminate yourself from other people, then other people dont discriminate you .

dont expose what you are actually to all people, that is not good for any kind of people.(not only muslims)
15:08 September 15, 2009 by DreEstwd
If someone started doing prayers in the middle of any class or exam that I was doing, I would slap them all the way back to the Middle East. This is the Western world where religion is exercised at home in private or in a place of worship. Not in public.
16:10 September 15, 2009 by unresolved_mystery
@Eurostan

First thing, your comment is quite out of context here, its a different thing if you want to drag everything to suit your agenda

Second thing, if someone goes out, takes a break and says prayers, its his/her personal choice, ..., Why should it bother any person if someone wants to leave in the middle of class.

By saying prayers nobody is forcing anything on any person. Did you hear complains from Swedish fellas that they were repeatedly asked to embrace Islam?

Do you think by saying prayer, one is transforming into some extermist type. Your arguments are totally without substance,

On a different note, I find it quite quite ironic, that nobody can see the suffering that Muslims at large went through, when they were tortured, devasted, bombarded on the premise that terror plots were carried out on their lands. And, even so, Muslims are terrorists. Each forum is nothing but a hatred chapter against Muslims.

In the end Eurostan, I would say that you like discussion, but each of your argument is mere re-arrangement of your prejudices.

Peace
16:57 September 15, 2009 by benraph
Eurostan has made some fair points, allthough not PC. I am from the UK and there was just a far right protest against Islamic extremists(reminicent of the 30's), and Islamic extremists were egging them on. Both sides attacked the police and many were arrested. The truth is that in England, muslims are not standing up to islamic extremism. Think about it, Their parents came from Pakistan or Somalia or wherever else to escape political problems and financial ones, They should at least be grateful to the hosting country and try and learn about its customs and way of life. And the worst thing is how they are turning on the same countries that gave them shelter and a better life. Not all of them are like this, but those that arent have a resposibility to speak out against Islamic fundementalism. I fear that Sweden is only a few years behind the UK. I hope none of your citizens dont start planning to bomb planes out of the Sky.
22:42 September 15, 2009 by waspy
They've revealed the identities of the other so-called Swede's who were arrested:

"The other Swedes arrested were identified as Munir Awad and Safia Benaouda and a young boy who was apparently their son, according to a police report obtained by the AP through the Interior Ministry.

Benaouda and Awad are the same names of two people who also have been in the news before.

A Swede named Safia Benaouda, then 17 years old, was held by Ethiopian authorities after being taken into custody along the Somali-Kenyan border in 2007. She told a Swedish newspaper that she was interrogated for weeks by white foreigners and asked about extremism in Sweden. A man named Munir Awad was identified as her fiance.

The Benaouda who was held in Ethiopia is the daughter of Helena Benaouda, chairwoman of the Swedish Muslim Council."

http://www.examiner.com/a-2216168~Police__Pakistan_suspect_is_Swede_once_at_Gitmo.html
02:27 September 16, 2009 by DreEstwd
Surprise surprise...
12:19 September 16, 2009 by flintis
Leave them there & stop wasting taxpayers money that could be better spent on health care etc:
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
GOTHENBURG SCHOOL STABBING
Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old

Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old

A 28-year-old man suspected of stabbing a young girl in the throat at the beginning of February, has been apprehended and is being held in another country pending Sweden's extradition demand. READ »

Swedish man lay 'dead for weeks' in Lund flat

A man in Lund, southern Sweden, lay dead in his house for weeks before his body was discovered, as visiting care staff had left after the man failed to answer his door. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Sweden expels foreign official: report

The Swedish government said on Tuesday it has expelled a foreign diplomat, but spokespeople were unwilling to confirm international reports that it was a high level official from Rwanda. READ »

THE LOCAL LIST
Sweden's seven 'sexiest' places explored

Sweden's seven 'sexiest' places explored

On Valentine's Day, The Local invites you on a journey of seduction through Sweden, a country which may be worth probing further when it comes to matters of love. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Valentine's day in Sweden - readers' sweet tweets and love stories

Valentine's day in Sweden - readers' sweet tweets and love stories

With Valentine's day upon us again, The Local called for messages from the star-crossed lovers of Sweden, who sent us their loving letters and sweet tweets in a celebration of love in Sweden. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Swedish tourist halted for having 'terrorist name'

Swedish tourist halted for having 'terrorist name'

A Swedish man set to take off on his "dream holiday" to Mexico was turned away before boarding, as flight officials claimed he shared the name of a wanted terrorist. READ (18 COMMENTS) »

Swedish man suspected of 'kidnapping himself'

A 29-year-old man in northern Sweden has been remanded into custody together with an accomplice after trying to extort money from his parents by pretending he had been kidnapped. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

Sweden at ’real risk’ of terror: government

Sweden at ’real risk’ of terror: government

The Swedish Government has penned a new terror strategy, upgrading Sweden’s risk status since the last plan four years ago, calling for an ‘inter-agency cooperation’ in the fight to counter terror in Sweden. READ (11 COMMENTS) »

More National

Highlights from Follow Sweden

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »


Blog Update: Julie's Nordic Island

12 February 21:30

The consciousness of one »

"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »

Highlights
Photo: Rachel Davies/Flickr
DATING »
The Local helps shed some light on the tantalizing mystery known as the strong, silent Nordic type.
The Local
SOCIETY »
The Local's Oliver Gee finds out why the star of Sweden's version of 'The Office' thinks Sweden is the most PC country in the world
Micheal Brauer/Flickr (File)
SCIENCE & TECH »
'Drunkorexia' on the rise in Sweden: report
Alexander Lervik and Johan Carper
LIFESTYLE »
Seven Swedish designs that will blow your mind
Eva Rinadi Celebrity and Live Music Photography/Flickr
SOCIETY »
Star Wars in Swedish causes fan outrage
www.dotoday.se
LIFESTYLE »
What's On: The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
OLIKA Publishing
OPINION »
The Swedish language needs a new pronoun free of preconceived notions about gender, a Swedish linguist and representatives from a publishing house argue
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
SOCIETY »
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
TV4
GALLERY »
An inside look at 'The Office' in Swedish
Georgios M.W (File)
SOCIETY »
Swedish mother gave 3-year-old cigs and beer
Photo: Fredrik Persson/Scanpix
SOCIETY »
A duvet cover designed to look like cardboard boxes, on sale at a luxury department store in Stockholm, has some arguing that the city's homeless are being exploited for profit.
Ann Catrin Brockman/Flickr (File)
LIFESTYLE »
Five Swedish songs that never made Eurovision
Q&A with Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley
LIFESTYLE »
Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley explains how ‘three bespectacled English guys’ plan to make Swedes laugh
Photo: Screenshot YouTube
SOCIETY »
Move over Bugs – a Swedish bunny is rapidly becoming the most popular rabbit in the world!
Photo: Sony Pictures
SPONSORED ARTICLE
How Millennium films tap deep into Swedish angst
Photo: Helena Wahlman
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Braving the cold: Ten reasons to spend winter in Sweden
Photo: ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin
Highlights from Follow Sweden
Swedish word of the day

fin

adjective

Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Blog
Highlights from Follow Sweden
New book about Sweden – get to know the country

Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.

Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

Jobs in Sweden, in English

522 jobs available
250 new jobs this week
45 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS