The threat warnings from the United Kingdom and Australia were issued for two Scandinavian countries.
The British government has warned its citizens to be vigilant for terrorist activities when traveling in Denmark. The Foreign Office advises Britons that “Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Denmark. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners. The authorities in Denmark have successfully disrupted a number of planned attacks and made a number of arrests.”
Separately, the Australian federal government upgraded its travel warning level to Level Two for Sweden, advising Australians traveling in the country to “exercise a high degree of caution.” Level Two advises Australian travelers that there are more or higher risks than would typically be found in a large Australian city.
Similarly to Britain, Australia has increased the travel warning category for Sweden based on that country’s own assessment of the potential for terrorist activity. The Swedish Government recently increased the threat from “Elevated Threat” to “High Threat,” the second highest category on the country’s five-point terrorism assessment scale.
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The U.S State Department has already ranked both Sweden and Denmark as Level Two (on a four-point scale) for terrorism threats. As with Australia’s advisory, U.S. citizens traveling to either country are encouraged to exercise increased caution due to the risk of a terrorist attack.
Both countries have come under scrutiny because of an increase in public demonstrations involving the burning of a Quran—Islam’s holy book—which Muslims believe to be the direct word of God.
Sweden and Denmark have grappled with how to respond to the demonstrations, which some regard as an act of free expression, and others see as an act of xenophobia and religious animus. Both countries have laws protecting free expression and prohibiting hate speech. Denmark has further restrictions on speech, prohibiting burning other countries’ flags, supporting or promoting terrorism, or insulting the monarch.
Both countries have received diplomatic blowback from the governments of some Muslim-majority countries. In Sweden, citizens planning to protest and burn a Quran must first apply for a permit, and approval of such permits can appear as the government’s tacit approval. Turkey held up Sweden’s membership in NATO partially over concerns about the country’s response to the demonstrations. In Iraq, the work visa of Swedish company Ericsson was revoked, and Iraq has expelled the Swedish ambassador.
What Travelers Should Look Out For
The U.S. State Department advises travelers in Sweden or Denmark to be aware of their surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues which could be targets for terrorist attacks. Citizens are also encouraged to monitor local media for breaking news on terror threats so they can adjust their plans accordingly. In particular, travelers should avoid government buildings with protests already in progress, the sites of planned protests (planned Quran protest burnings have been widely covered in Swedish and Danish media), and the sites of any past protests.
Travelers may also wish to avoid discussing the topic, including the government’s response, constitutional concerns, or the attacks on Swedish and Danish embassies abroad. Both countries have a tradition of direct, open debate, but it may not be advisable for a visitor to wade into the debate.
It’s also worth noting that Denmark and Sweden are not the only countries in Europe the U.S. State Department sets at Level 2. The United Kingdom, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany are all currently ranked Level 2 for terrorism concerns.
American citizens can also enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to log their intent to travel abroad and receive updates from the local diplomatic mission before and during their travel with updates on developing situations in the country. Enrollment in STEP also alerts local embassies and consulates to lodging and contact details for American citizens in the event of an emergency, such as a terrorist attack in progress.