Swedish officials said on Tuesday that the Iranian government hacked a messaging service last year, sending thousands of messages urging Swedes to take revenge on those who burned the Quran. According to Reuters, several incidents in 2023 saw individuals in Sweden publicly burning the Islamic holy book, provoking outrage in the Islamic world and increasing fears of jihadist attacks. The Swedish Security Service stated in a statement: 'The Security Police can prove that a cyber group acting on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran carried out the infiltration campaign.' The statement added: 'The aim was, among other things, to portray Sweden as an Islamophobic country and create division in society.' Following the Quran burning incidents, Sweden raised its terrorist threat level last year. The Swedish Prosecutor's Office stated in a separate announcement that investigations show it was the Iranian government that carried out this action through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This Swedish entity announced that the hacker responsible for the infiltration has been identified, but no charges will be filed against him. The statement noted: 'Since the perpetrators are acting for a foreign power, in this case Iran, we assess that the conditions for legal prosecution abroad or extradition to Sweden do not exist.' Reuters reported that the Iranian embassy in Stockholm and the Iranian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to this report. Sweden accused the Islamic Republic of using criminal groups within the country. The Dutch Intelligence Agency reported that at least 10 jihadist attacks were thwarted in Europe last year. Security agencies noted that terrorist threats against Denmark have increased due to the Gaza war and the 'Quran burnings.' Swedish officials announced the arrest of four suspects related to 'terrorist operations.' Quran burnings in Europe led Iran to summon the chargé d'affaires of Sweden and Denmark separately.
Sweden Accuses Iran of Hacking Messaging Service Following Quran Burning Incident
Sweden has accused the Iranian government of hacking a messaging service to incite violence against those who burned the Quran. This incident follows a series of Quran burnings in Sweden that have heightened tensions and fears of jihadist attacks. The situation underscores the growing international concerns regarding Iran's influence and cyber activities.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Sweden accused Iran of hacking a messaging service to incite violence after Quran burnings.
- Swedish Security Service announce Iranian government
- Swedish officials arrest four suspects
- Iran summon Sweden and Denmark
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran is using cyber tactics to retaliate against actions perceived as anti-Islam.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%