Young ISIS Affiliates Convicted for Planned Suicide Attack on Stockholm’s Kulturfestival 2025

Nineteen-year-old Faris Al Abdullah was sentenced to seven years and ten months in prison for plotting a suicide bombing targeting the Kulturfestival in Stockholm, which attracted around two million attendees last August. The Stockholm District Court found him guilty of preparing terrorist acts and serious involvement in a terrorist organization after he pledged allegiance to ISIS. Al Abdullah’s meticulously planned attack involved explosives, a suicide vest, firearms, and grenades designed to cause mass casualties among festivalgoers. Although he began assembling explosives, no complete device was found, but the materials had potential for serious harm.

The plot was uncovered by Swedish Security Service and police through extensive surveillance that included an undercover officer and infiltrators who gained Al Abdullah’s trust. His intent was confirmed during court proceedings, with prosecutors initially requesting a minimum 12-year sentence. However, the court, considering his young age and psychiatric evaluations stating he was mentally stable, imposed a reduced sentence.

In addition to the Kulturfestival plan, both Al Abdullah and a 17-year-old accomplice, who was sentenced to one year of closed youth care for a planned murder in Germany, had sworn allegiance to ISIS. Both suspects were implicated in an attempted murder in Germany in 2024. The young accomplice’s involvement was uncovered shortly after Al Abdullah’s arrest.

Al Abdullah justified targeting the Cultura festivalgoers by arguing they contributed to Muslim deaths through tax-funded Swedish defense efforts. Authorities reacted promptly after he disclosed his plans to an undercover officer and had begun acquiring explosives and equipment, including a body camera intended to film the attack.

This case highlights the challenges of counterterrorism efforts in Sweden’s major urban centers and reflects the ongoing threat posed by radicalized youth linked to international terrorist groups like ISIS. The verdict aims to send a strong message regarding the consequences of terror planning in the country.