Sweden Accuses Iranian Intelligence of SMS Hacking to Incite Violence
In a shocking revelation, Swedish prosecutors have accused Iran's intelligence service of orchestrating a hacking campaign against a Swedish SMS operator in 2023. This operation allegedly facilitated the dissemination of 15,000 text messages promoting retaliation against protesters who burned copies of the Quran. This incident unfolded during a summer rife with demonstrations that involved desecrations of the Muslim holy book, sparking widespread outrage and divisive tensions within Swedish society.
On Tuesday, Sweden's prosecution authority stated that the intent behind these messages was to further deepen societal divisions, effectively painting Sweden as an Islamophobic nation. Fredrik Hallström, the chief of operations at Sweden's intelligence service, known as Sapo, confirmed that a hacker group, suspected to be acting on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, had executed this influence campaign.
The operation came to light on August 1, 2023, when it was reported that numerous individuals received urgent text messages inciting them to take revenge against those involved in the Quran burnings. According to investigators, the group implicated in this campaign has been identified as the Anzu Team. However, officials stated that the inquiry has concluded without charges being filed, primarily due to the complexities of prosecuting actors who operate under the aegis of a foreign government.
Mats Ljungqvist, a senior prosecutor, acknowledged the challenges in bringing the suspects to justice: "Since the actors are acting on behalf of a foreign power in this case, Iran, our assessment is that the conditions necessary to bring charges abroad or an extradition to Sweden are missing for those suspected of being behind the attack."
The simmering tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern countries escalated following these protests. In July 2023, Iraqi demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on two separate occasions, resulting in significant damage to the compound during the latter attack. In response to the growing threats, Sapo elevated its threat level to four on a five-point scale, indicating that Sweden had become a prioritized target for foreign influences amid these ongoing tensions.
Despite the backlash, the Swedish government has severely condemned the desecration of religious texts while simultaneously upholding the principles of freedom of speech and assembly enshrined in its constitution. The fraught relations between Sweden and Iran have been exacerbated by Sweden's past judicial actions against individuals linked to the Iranian regime. One notable case involved Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official arrested in Stockholm in 2019 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022 for his involvement in mass executions in Iranian jails during the late 1980s.
The situation further deteriorated when, in June 2023, both countries executed a prisoner exchange: Noury was released in Sweden in return for a European Union diplomat, Johan Floderus, and a Swedish national, Saeed Azizi, who had been detained in Iran since November 2023. As these geopolitical tensions continue to unfold, the implications of cyber warfare, influence campaigns, and the safeguarding of national integrity remain crucial concerns for authorities moving forward.
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