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The Old Country Newsletter – A Stopped Suicide Bombing
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden!
Philip Hannes
November 07, 2025
Good morning!
It’s Friday, November 7.
This past Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the most recent U.S. presidential election. It was also the anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic third-term victory in 1940 — the first and only time an American president has been elected three times. And, as if that weren’t enough, it’s been 113 years since Woodrow Wilson defeated William Howard Taft in 1912.
A historic day indeed. Let’s hope this Friday is a bit quieter – it is the end of the work week, after all.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Philip & Hannes
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Word of the week
PRASSLA [PRAH-sla]
to russle.
Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist Set to Lead Sweden’s Center Party
Attribution: Omni Nyheter
Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist is poised to become the new leader of Sweden’s Center Party after being unanimously nominated by the party’s selection committee. Her likely election follows the abrupt resignation of current leader Anna-Karin Hatt, who stepped down after less than six months citing escalating threats and harassment. Thand Ringqvist, a business-savvy MP with a liberal-green profile, says she’s entering the role with “humility, joy, and a lot of optimism for the future.”
If confirmed at the party congress on November 13, Thand Ringqvist promises a return to the Center Party’s core identity: pro-business, climate-focused, and staunchly opposed to the influence of the far-right Sweden Democrats. She emphasized creating more jobs, cutting emissions, and strengthening people’s freedom to shape their own lives — while insisting the party will continue to reject any cooperation with the SD. “A vote for the Center Party is a vote to say no to Sweden Democrats’ influence,” she said, adding that the party has not yet chosen a preferred prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 2026 election.
Born on Frösön in northern Sweden and trained at the Stockholm School of Economics, Thand Ringqvist brings decades of experience in industry and entrepreneurship, plus a parliamentary seat since 2022. Party leaders praised her drive and stability, noting she has “the decisiveness and energy” to steer the party forward — and to protect the open democratic dialogue Hatt said is now under threat.
With internal support solid and the party eager for calm after a turbulent period, Thand Ringqvist’s leadership marks both a reset and a recommitment to liberal-centrist politics in an increasingly polarized Sweden.
Postcard from the North
Höga Kusten Bron
In other news
🚢 Sweden is preparing to make a multibillion-kronor purchase of four new advanced frigates, with a government decision expected by the end of this year or early next. Four European defense companies—France’s Naval Group, Spain’s Navantia, the U.K.’s Babcock, and Sweden’s Saab Kockums—are competing for the contract, which emphasizes rapid delivery and strong air-defense capability amid rising security concerns over Russia. Officials describe the procurement as being in a critical final phase, influenced not only by price and technology but also by geopolitical considerations and defense-industry cooperation.
🔫 Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard says there is no evidence that Swedish weapons exported to the United Arab Emirates have ended up in Sudan. The UAE has been accused of supplying arms to the RSF militia involved in Sudan’s civil war. When asked whether Sweden should stop selling weapons to the UAE, Stenergard argued that doing so broadly would mean halting trade with all countries that do not share Sweden’s views.
💊 Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca reported a 9% increase in total revenue for the third quarter, surpassing analysts’ expectations. Earnings per share also came in higher than forecast at $2.38 versus the expected $2.27. CEO Pascal Soriot said the company’s strong growth this year positions it well to sustain momentum into 2026 and stay on track with its 2030 goals, while AstraZeneca maintained its full-year outlook for high single-digit revenue growth and at least double-digit profit growth.
Swedish Teen Charged With Planning ISIS-Inspired Suicide Bombing at Stockholm Festival
Attribution: Kungsträdgården
An 18-year-old man has been charged with preparing a terrorist attack targeting Stockholm’s annual Culture Festival in Kungsträdgården last August — a plot prosecutors say was inspired by the Islamic State and intended to be recorded on camera.
According to prosecutors Henrik Olin and Carl Mellberg, the man had acquired bomb-making materials, filmed a “martyr video,” and bought a body camera he planned to wear while detonating an explosive device in a crowded area. Investigators say he also swore allegiance to ISIS and had detailed how the attack would be carried out and publicized afterward. “The purpose was to carry out an attack in the name of the Islamic State. This act could have seriously harmed Sweden,” said Mellberg.
The Swedish Security Service (Säpo) began monitoring the suspect in mid-2024 after noticing signs of radicalization. Undercover officers gained his trust by posing as fellow extremists, even accompanying him on reconnaissance visits to the intended attack site. He was arrested near Kungsträdgården after police determined his plans had moved from talk to concrete preparation. “We have very likely prevented a serious terrorist attack in Sweden,” said prosecutor Olin.
Säpo officials describe the case as emblematic of one of Sweden’s most pressing threats: young men radicalized online through extremist propaganda and violent content. The 18-year-old also faces charges alongside a 17-year-old from Malmö for an attempted murder in Germany linked to terrorist activity.
The suspect, who has prior convictions for robbery, drug offenses, and participation in the 2022 Easter riots, remains in custody as the trial date is set. His lawyer has declined to comment.
Swede-ish Notes
Attribution: Omni
Ctrl-Alt-Del: Digital National Exams
It was supposed to be a proud milestone for Sweden’s digital education — the long-awaited rollout of the digital national exams. Instead, it’s becoming something of a national running joke.
After seven years of development and roughly 700 million kronor spent, the system crashed last spring just days before students were set to take their tests. On Thursday, during a new trial run for sixth graders, history repeated itself. Across the country, students couldn’t log in, teachers panicked, and even Skolverket’s own staff were locked out. “Kaos,” one teacher wrote to SVT. “How long can this go on?”
The idea behind the digital exams is sound: to modernize assessment, reduce grading workloads, and ensure consistency nationwide. But the repeated failures have become symbolic of a broader tension in Swedish governance — the faith in digital solutions to fix complex, human systems.
Sweden is often seen as a world leader in digitalization, but as this episode shows, high trust and good intentions don’t always translate into working platforms. For teachers, it’s not just about technology; it’s about the mounting stress and the feeling of being caught in an endless beta test.
The next attempt is planned for spring 2026. By then, officials hope the system will finally run smoothly. But as many frustrated educators might tell you: trust, like servers, can crash. And it takes a long time to reboot.