Sweden’s Terror Threat Level Has Been Upped to Its Highest Point Ever

The Swedish Security Service (SAPO) announced on Wednesday that the nation’s terror threat level was at the highest point since the system had been in use.

The threat level is now set to “high” or a level four, the second highest level in Sweden’s five point terror threat rankings, reports UPI, citing a local news portal. A level four alert means “the probability that [terrorists] have the intent and ability to carry out attacks is high,” according to SAPO.

SAPO’s Director General Anders Thornberg told reporters on Wednesday that one person has been arrested “in absentia” for plotting attacks and that the plans weren’t directly related to Friday’s attacks in Paris, UPI said.

The agency added that police had heightened patrols in public areas and could soon release a picture and more information about the suspect, who one local news channel said may be of Iraqi origins.

The last time Sweden raised its terror alert level was in 2010 in the wake of threats against the artist Lars Viks, known for drawing the Prophet Mohammed.

[UPI]