Court of Appeal Increases Sentence for Convicted IS Member – Planned Terror Attack on Culture Festival

The sentence for the now 19-year-old Syrian IS terrorist who planned an Islamist terror attack in Stockholm has been increased by the Svea Court of Appeal. After a stricter assessment, he is now sentenced to nearly ten years in prison – significantly harsher than the district court ruling. However, he will remain in Sweden.

The Svea Court of Appeal is increasing the sentence for 19-year-old Syrian migrant Faris Al Abdullah, who planned a terror attack in the name of the Islamic State (IS) against the Culture Festival in Stockholm. The punishment is raised from seven years and ten months in prison to nine years and ten months.

Faris Al Abdullah was convicted in the district court for, among other things, preparation of a terrorist crime and aggravated participation in a terrorist organization – crimes that he also confessed to. However, the Court of Appeal makes a stricter overall assessment of the severity of the crimes.

In the verdict, the Court of Appeal particularly highlights the link to a planned violent crime in Germany in the summer of 2024. Although it is still classified as attempted murder, the court finds that the crime is significantly more serious than the district court assessed.

According to the Court of Appeal, the perpetrators had traveled to Germany with the intention to kill, had come far in their planning, and understood that the mission was commissioned by IS.

The co-accused, who was underage at the time of the crimes, also has his sentence increased but is still only sentenced to youth care, though for a somewhat longer period – one year and eight months.

Planned Mass Murder During the Culture Festival

Faris Al Abdullah was convicted in the district court after planning a suicide attack during the Culture Festival in central Stockholm – an event that annually gathers large crowds.

The investigation shows that he, over several months, surveyed the area around Kungsträdgården, studied bomb manuals, and acquired materials to make explosives. He had also prepared a martyrdom video and planned to film the attack for propaganda purposes.

The plans were revealed after the Security Police infiltrated his network. In February 2025, he was arrested near the location where the attack was to be carried out.

Connections to International Terrorism

In addition to the terror plans in Sweden, the indictment also covered a planned violent crime in the German city of Eppstein. There, Al Abdullah and his accomplice were deemed to have prepared a murder, which, according to the Court of Appeal, now weighs more heavily in the assessment of his sentence.

According to the court, the case shows a clear international dimension and connection to the terror-listed organization IS.

Previous Crimes and Radicalization

Faris Al Abdullah came to Sweden from Syria in 2018 and was granted permanent residency shortly thereafter. In 2021, he obtained Swedish citizenship.

He has previously been convicted of several crimes in Sweden, including aggravated sabotage against emergency services during the Quran riots in Linköping, robbery, and drug offenses.

This is where Faris would have detonated the bomb. Photo: Ludwig Saari.

In 2024, according to the investigation, he was radicalized via the internet and swore allegiance to the Islamic State. He then began planning his terror plot.

Since he has obtained Swedish citizenship, he cannot, under current law, be deported despite the seriousness of his crimes. In Denmark and several other countries, he would have lost his acquired citizenship and been deported for the same offenses.

Confession Not Grounds for Leniency

During the district court trial, Al Abdullah confessed to key parts of the crimes, which contributed to a reduced sentence. However, the Court of Appeal made a different overall assessment and determined that the combined seriousness of the crimes warranted a significantly longer prison sentence.

The ruling marks a clear statement from the higher court on how seriously the justice system views terrorist crimes—especially when the plans were advanced and had connections to international Muslim terror networks.