Swedbank opened account for terror suspect

Swedbank opened a bank account for now terror-charged Ajman Shanab in July last year, despite him already being on the Security Service’s radar. This is evident from the Security Service’s investigation.

According to the investigation, he signed the documents to open the bank account at the end of July last year, which was subsequently used, not least, to finance the terrorist sect Islamic State (IS).

Was suspected of terrorism

The 23-year-old Syrian had not yet been formally suspected of terrorist offenses when Swedbank opened the bank account for him, but his jihadist accomplice Zaker Mohsini had been arrested at Arlanda the month before when he attempted for the third time to travel to Somalia to join IS.

In addition, Shanab had been arrested by Somali police in March of the same year when he landed at Hargeisa airport. The Somali authorities suspected that he had traveled to the country to join the local branch of the Islamic State.

And in September the year before, 2023, he and Mohsini were arrested by Ethiopian police near the border with Somalia. The Ethiopian authorities also suspected that the men intended to cross the border to join IS.

After both arrests, Ajman Shanab and Zaker Mohsini were deported back to Sweden. Despite this, they were not detained in Sweden, and Shanab was allowed to open a bank account in Swedbank, thereby continuing to assist in the financing of the notorious terrorist sect.

Several different banks

Ajman Shanab and his jihadist accomplice Zaker Mohsini used bank accounts in several different banks. In addition to Swedbank, Nordea, Länsförsäkringar bank, and Revolut also appear in the Security Service’s investigation.

However, Swedbank stands out, as one of the bank’s accounts was also used to purchase electronic visas needed to attempt to travel to Somalia.

Money was transferred via the bank accounts to Binance and Coinbase; two different services for purchasing cryptocurrency. The purchased cryptocurrency could then be transferred to terrorists abroad.

Closes down political dissidents

Swedbank is one of the banks in Sweden that has cracked down the hardest on individuals suspected of holding incorrect political views. This has even been established in court.

Many times, the bank justifies the closures with “lack of customer knowledge,” and fear of money laundering and terrorist financing. Other times, it has openly admitted that the motive was political.

Samnytt has contacted Swedbank, which does not want to comment on opening a bank account for Ajman Shanab, and thus facilitating his financing of the Islamic State.

“With reference to bank secrecy, I cannot confirm or deny any current or previous customer relationship,” writes Swedbank’s press chief Hannes Mård in an email.