Somali Imam Arrested in Sweden on Terrorism Charges
1st May 2024
The 60-year-old leader of a mosque in Tyresö, Sweden, has been arrested on suspicion of direct participation in a terrorism organization. The Somali imam was heading a mosque on a volunteer basis, teaching children and youth on the premises of a Muslim cultural association.
The imam has been leading the mosque at least since the early 2000s, and for a time functioned as the chairman of the cultural association. His arrest was the result of an investigation following a raid by Swedish security services SÄPO in March, where four men in their 20s were detained.
Two of those, converts to Islam, have now been arrested on suspicion of preparation for terrorism and aggravated weapons offense. The two others are members of a known criminal gang. According to TV4, some of the suspects have been on the radar of law enforcement since September of last year.