SWEDEN — Stockholm-based daily Aftonbladet has identified and mapped an extensive list of Swedish citizens who have traveled abroad to support the terror group ISIS. "The Swedes Who Wanted To Die For Terror," reads the front page of Scandinavia's most read daily.
Aftonbladet said it chose to publish the list, complete with names and photos of the individuals, because the terrorist sympathizers "despise the thought of a democratic society and because these people have been trained to kill, and may be potential terrorists — right here among us."
The investigative piece comes after two Swedish citizens were arrested Friday in the Greek city of Alexandroupolis for their suspected jihadist links.
Aftonbladet, Feb. 1, 2016
Of the 77 people on the list, 25 are believed to be dead, 11 have returned to Sweden, and 20 are women, who Aftonbladet's analysts believe are meant to populate the Caliphate and foster the next generation's jihadists. The Swedish Security Police (SÄPO) estimates that a total of 286 people have traveled from Sweden to Syria to support ISIS.
Sweden has been roiled by rising tensions over immigration and security in recent weeks, with plans to deport thousands of failed refugee applicants. Unconfirmed reports over the weekend said that anti-immigrant groups were set to mount attacks against immigrant youths.