Säpo is investigating a suspected plot against Sweden’s Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer after two men were arrested during a campaign event in Gothenburg on Thursday evening. The men, both in their 40s, are suspected of preparing an aggravated assault directed at the minister. They were released from custody on Friday but remain under investigation.
According to SVT Nyheter, police arrested the two men at around 21:00 on 20 August near Drottningtorget in central Gothenburg, where Strömmer, a member of the Moderate Party (Moderaterna), was campaigning ahead of Sweden’s September election.
Police said the arrests took place without incident. Neither Strömmer nor anyone else was injured, and the campaign event was able to continue.
Säpo investigates suspected preparations for an assault
Both men were initially detained on probable cause on suspicion of preparation for aggravated assault. They were released on Friday afternoon, although the Swedish Security Service (Säkerhetspolisen), commonly known as Säpo, said they remain suspects.
Authorities have not disclosed what prompted the police intervention, what the suspected plan involved or a possible motive. Police have, however, confirmed that the alleged offence was directed against the justice minister.
One of the two men is also suspected of a minor drug offence and violating Sweden’s knife law. A lawyer representing one of the suspects told SVT that his client strongly denies the accusations.
The investigation has been assigned to the National Security Unit (Riksenheten för säkerhetsmål) and is being conducted by Säpo because of its connection to Sweden’s central state leadership.
Säpo said investigators are conducting interviews and examining technical evidence. The security service is responsible for protecting and investigating certain threats against members of Sweden’s central state leadership, which includes government ministers and members of parliament. Säpo describes attacks, threats and attempts at undue influence against political leaders as potential threats to the functioning of Swedish democracy.
Strömmer continued campaigning after the arrests
Strömmer said the intervention had been calm and that he did not feel unsafe.
“I feel safe, the intervention took place calmly and in an orderly manner, and we continued campaigning,” he told SVT.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, also from the Moderates, said he had spoken with Strömmer after the incident and described violence and threats against politicians as part of a broader worrying trend.
“That it happens in connection with election meetings is always a warning sign,” Kristersson said.
The prime minister also drew attention to local politicians who do not receive dedicated personal protection, saying he was particularly concerned about elected representatives who face threats without comparable security arrangements.
The distinction is part of Sweden’s security system. Säpo is responsible for threat assessments and protective measures involving the central state leadership, while the Swedish Police Authority (Polismyndigheten) has responsibility for people outside that group, including municipal and regional politicians. Säpo’s guidance for elected representatives explains the division of responsibilities.
Political security is under greater scrutiny before Sweden’s election
The suspected plot against Gunnar Strömmer comes during the final weeks of Sweden’s election campaign. Parliamentary, regional and municipal elections will be held on 13 September 2026, with early voting beginning on 26 August. Sweden’s Election Authority has confirmed the timetable for the 2026 elections.
Säpo had already said before the incident that it was intensifying security work ahead of the election. Campaign periods increase the number of public meetings, door-to-door activities and other occasions in which prominent politicians are more visible and exposed. The security service says this can affect both the threat environment and politicians’ vulnerabilities. Its assessment of election security highlights the increased exposure associated with an election year.
For now, authorities have not established publicly why the two men were allegedly preparing to assault Strömmer or whether the suspected offence had a political motive. The investigation remains open, with both men at liberty and still formally suspected.
