Sweden Charges 18-Year-Old Over Alleged Islamic State Suicide-Bomb Plot at Stockholm Festival

Overview

• The 18-year-old Syrian-Swedish dual national is accused of preparing a terrorist offence targeting the Stockholm Culture Festival, which drew about 2 million visitors.
• Charges include preparation to commit a terrorist offence, attempted murder, participation in a terrorist organisation (gross), training for terrorism (gross), and preparation under the Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods (gross).
• Investigators say he reconnoitred potential sites, bought bomb-making materials and a body camera, and pledged allegiance to Islamic State.
• Police used an undercover agent who posed as an Islamist militant, with prosecutors saying there was a clear intent to cause extensive loss of life.
• The suspect, arrested in February after surveillance, denies the charges; he is also indicted with a 17-year-old in a separate alleged murder plot in southern Germany, and his Stockholm trial begins Tuesday, 11 November.