Iran Accused of Using Swedish Gangs To Target Israeli and Jewish Interests
Iran is allegedly using organized criminal networks in Sweden to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets, often involving minors recruited through encrypted messaging platforms. According to a CNN investigation published this week, Sweden’s Security Service (SÄPO) has linked a series of shootings and attempted bombings—many near the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm—to Iranian-backed gangs.
Authorities say teens as young as 13 have been involved. One 15-year-old was caught with a weapon, and a 14-year-old was arrested after firing a semi-automatic pistol near the embassy. SÄPO officials believe these minors were manipulated by Sweden’s most violent gangs—Foxtrot and Rumba—operating under Iranian orders. Offers of money, clothes, and status are reportedly used to lure young recruits.
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Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson accused Iran in January of using local gangs to carry out hybrid warfare on Swedish soil. “Sweden is not at war. But there is no peace either,” he said. Israel’s Mossad has also linked Foxtrot leader Rawa Majid—born in Iran and now believed to be operating from northern Iraq—to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
The US Treasury sanctioned Majid and the Foxtrot network in March for their alleged role in Iranian-sponsored attacks, including an attempted bombing in Stockholm in 2024.
The exploitation of Sweden’s juvenile justice system—which emphasizes rehabilitation—has sparked debate, as 30% of suspects in 2024 gun homicides were under 18. Experts warn that Iran’s tactics represent a new phase in its conflict with Israel, extending its proxy war into Europe.
