Man Arrested for Serious Threats Against Swedish Ministers Forssell and Dousa Amid Activist Backlash

A 42-year-old man has been arrested by Sweden's Security Service (Säpo) for making serious illegal threats against government ministers Johan Forssell and Benjamin Dousa. The arrest took place on January 20 following threats made on January 18 and 19, which were directed at the ministers' private residences. The suspect awaits a detention hearing scheduled for Friday and is held on probable cause for two counts of unlawful threats.

The threats involved objects found near the ministers' homes, including a basket containing apples painted with Adolf Hitler's face placed on Forssell's porch and a doll depicting an Islamic State fighter holding a severed woman's head left at Dousa's gate. These incidents were claimed by the activist group Rojavakommittéerna, which supports Kurdish independence and the PKK, an organization designated as terrorist by several governments. The group publicly condemned the ministers' recent trip to Syria, criticizing Sweden's engagement with the new Syrian regime, which they accuse of ethnic cleansing against Kurds and minorities.

Authorities classified the threats as attacks against the central government leadership, and Säpo’s national security unit is leading the investigation. Despite the social media posts, Säpo has not confirmed a direct link between the suspect and the activist group. The suspect’s defense lawyer denied the charges. Both ministers have refrained from commenting due to security concerns.

The government's official position on the Syrian trip was described as seeking peaceful democratic development and facilitating the return of individuals convicted of crimes. The suspect expressed to the media that he considers such actions as a justified form of political critique.

These events highlight heightened political tensions in Sweden related to foreign policy decisions and security threats against government leaders. Säpo’s ongoing probe underscores the seriousness of threats against public officials in the current political climate.