Iran in Influence Operation Against Sweden – Urged Revenge for Quran Burning

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Iranian Islamist dictatorship is using criminal groups in Sweden to carry out attacks and terror across Europe, something confirmed by the Swedish Security Service (Säpo). Now, the Swedish Prosecution Authority reveals that Iran’s security service is behind a serious data breach where they took over a Swedish SMS service to send tens of thousands of messages urging revenge for Quran burnings.

On August 1 last year, it was noted that 15,000 people in Sweden received SMS messages urging revenge against Quran burners. The sender was a group calling themselves “AnzuTeam.” Säpo has investigated the case under the leadership of prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist at the National Unit for Security Cases, and now the results can be revealed.

“The preliminary investigation shows that it was the Iranian state through the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC, that carried out a data breach at a Swedish company operating a major SMS service. Through the investigation, we have been able to establish the identities of the Iranian hackers who carried out the serious data breach,” says senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist.

According to Ljungqvist, the purpose of the influence operation was to affect public opinion in Sweden.

“The purpose was to further escalate the situation and increase the conflict between different groups in society. Since the actors are acting on behalf of a foreign power, in this case Iran, we assess that the conditions for prosecution abroad or extradition to Sweden are lacking for the individuals suspected of the intrusion,” says Mats Ljungqvist.

Although the preliminary investigation has been discontinued, the Prosecution Authority emphasizes that the suspected hackers are not entirely dismissed, and as long as the crime is not time-barred, prosecutors can reopen the investigation.

“The Security Service can confirm that a cyber group acted on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to carry out an influence campaign. The purpose was, among other things, to paint the picture of Sweden as an Islamophobic country and create division in society,” says Fredrik Hallström, operational chief at the Security Service.

Strömmer: Very Serious

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M) comments on the case:

“That a state actor, in this case Iran, according to the Security Service’s assessment, is behind an action aimed at destabilizing Sweden or increasing polarization in our country is of course very serious,” he tells state television.