Police build teams to counter state-linked attacks in Sweden

Swedish police are setting up 24-hour situation centres and specialist investigation teams to detect and respond to attacks on critical services, SVT reports. State actors may use criminal networks to carry out assignments in Sweden, says Magnus Roglert, national head of the Police Authority’s preparedness section.

The police classify these offences as crimes against socially important services. They include sabotage targeting power lines, telephone masts and railway tracks, particularly in the energy and transport sectors, Roglert says.

Police have traditionally treated such incidents as isolated events but are now looking for patterns. Roglert says offences against critical services are increasing and becoming more systematic, rather than being viewed as vandalism or other less serious crimes.

Situation centres at national and regional levels now bring together officers with different expertise to share information about ongoing events around the clock. Their work covers areas including gang crime and public safety, which encompasses disturbances and offences against critical services.

Roglert said the approach had proved successful in handling lethal violence and could be applied to other areas. After an initial emergency response, specialist investigation teams with expertise in hybrid threats will take over. The teams are being established across the country.

Cooperation between the Police Authority, the Swedish Security Service and the Armed Forces has also been strengthened to better counter hybrid attacks in Sweden, Roglert said.