Response to Report on 'Use of Criminal Gangs'; Iran Summons Swedish Chargé d'Affaires

Following the publication of a report by the Swedish Security Service regarding the Islamic Republic's use of Swedish criminal gangs for 'violent acts', the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the temporary chargé d'affaires of the Swedish embassy in Tehran on Saturday, June 1. The assistant to the Director General for Western Europe at the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the statements of the Swedish security official as 'baseless and malicious accusations'. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that it expressed its objection to the remarks based on 'misleading and Israel-influenced information' to the Swedish chargé. Daniel Stenling, head of the counter-espionage unit of the Swedish Security Service, said on Thursday that the agency has evidence showing that the Islamic Republic of Iran uses Swedish criminal gangs to carry out 'violent acts' against Israel and other countries and groups in Sweden that Tehran considers threats. The Swedish Security Service's statement referred to 'Israeli and Jewish interests, objectives, and operations in Sweden', announcing that 'the Swedish Security Police has realized that the Iranian regime uses criminal networks in Sweden to carry out violent acts against other countries, groups, or individuals in Sweden that it considers threats.' In late January, the Israeli embassy in Stockholm was sealed off after a 'dangerous object' was found in the vicinity of the diplomatic mission in an area of eastern Stockholm. Swedish media reported that the object was a hand grenade. The embassy was not evacuated, and the object was eventually disposed of. No one was arrested, and officials did not disclose what was found. On May 17, gunfire was also heard near the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, and the area was cordoned off, but no one was arrested. Daniel Stenling, without providing details, said that his security agency 'can confirm that Iran uses criminal networks in Sweden as intermediaries.' Mr. Stenling and other attendees at the press conference did not mention recent incidents related to the Israeli embassy and refrained from naming criminal groups or suspects. Sweden has been struggling with violence from criminal gangs for years, often recruiting teenagers in socially deprived immigrant neighborhoods for criminal activities. As of May 15, the police in this country had recorded 85 shootings this year, 12 of which were fatal. Last year, a total of 363 shootings occurred in Sweden, resulting in 53 deaths and 109 injuries. The two main criminal gangs in Sweden, namely the 'Foxtrat' network led by Rava Majid, who lives in exile in Turkey, and its rival 'Rumba', have been involved in deadly conflicts for years. Ankara rejected Sweden's request for the extradition of Rava Majid, a dual Swedish citizen, because he also holds Turkish citizenship.