There is huge shock in Sweden following the suicide bombing in the capital Stockholm over the weekend. Unconfirmed reports suggest it was carried out by an Iraqi Muslim extremist, Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, who was based in the British town of Luton.
It is the first time a suicide bomber has struck the country, and the first terror attack there of any kind since the 1970s - although there have been attacks on leading figures since then, such as the 1986 assassination of the prime minister or the 2003 stabbing of foreign minister Anna Lindh.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on Sunday said the attack was "unacceptable" but urged Swedes not to jump to "premature conclusions" that "create tension which paints pictures that are then difficult to change."
"Sweden is an open society... which has stated a wish that people should be able to have different backgrounds, believe in different in gods, and live side by side." But is that possible?
Reports are now suggesting that one of the motivations for the attack was a Swedish cartoon that depicted Islam's prophet Muhammad as a dog.
And Magnus Norell of the Swedish Defence Research Agency has said Sweden has the same problems to contend with around radicalisation as anywhere else:
"The whole idea is that this is a global war for them and that the target exists everywhere, all over the world." Does what happened in Sweden show that even countries famed for tolerance cannot expect to be safe? Why has Sweden been attacked now? What's your reaction to what has happened?
Your comments
Comment sent via SMS
18:53
115736824
The UN and the AU to take power by force from Bakbo and hand over to Watara whether he like it or not instead of wasting time with him Bakbo is up to know better he is not a Chirld it is better for him to go to the Village and look for palm wine to encourage himself and give peace a chance to Watara shame on him big man big fool Mohamed Bawa F Town
Comment sent via Facebook
18:58
113631290
Dennis in Nigeria: For Ivory Coast not to be drown in war again, Laurent Gbagbo should not contemplate attacking Quattara and his security guards. He should forget any idea of power sharing deal as well. He should just realise the people dont want him again and hand over to the president-elect.
Comment sent via SMS
18:57
115870834
Please mr. Gbagbo step down and let peace rain in I’vry cost. Emilia in makeni, sierra leone
Comment sent via SMS
18:56
108486565
Comment: Africa is now a grave yard of democracy, we have been gunning down democracy. Mr. Gbagbo, Ivory Coast is for all ivorians. Dr. Elima, moroto, uganda
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18:57
113631290
Ehi: The solution is confederation of the North and the South. The North has already achieved a successful rebellion.There is some logic in the allegation of President Gbagbo that the election in the North was rigged because the region is controlled by rebels.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:55
113631290
Joseph in Zambia: Democracy has brought more bad than good in africa. Power sharing has became the older of the day and its a drain to the tax payer.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:38
113631290
Moses in Kampala: It is so unfortunate that it is a characteristic of leaders on the continent holding onto power as tightly as possible. I'm amazed that these are people really advanced in age. What picture are they showing to the young generation?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:35
113631290
Judith in Zambia: Africa is full of selfish leaders. Gbagbo is just one of them. When are these people going to get it, presidents come and go - it's the rule of law for crying out loud!
Comment sent via Feed
18:32
113631290
Najib in Nairobi texted in: The terrorist in the Sweden bombing is a mad man and does not represent Islam! He’s a lone lunatic!
Comment sent via Feed
18:29
113631290
Robin in Berlin emailed in: I think the question that should be asked more often is why is that such a high proportion of Islam's adherents are prone to extremism?
Comment sent via Feed
18:25
113631290
Ray emails us from Colorado: I admire Sweden's care of all its people, but Sweden needs to withdraw from Afghanistan, known as the "grave yard of empires". Just because American leaders pay no attention to history, Sweden's leaders now should.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
113631290
I think they sow hatred, hate towards Islam and muslims, Now they reaping their results. They must stop making fun with their cartoons of our beloved prophet and respect our religion. Other wise they will feel the effect of mokery by angry followers of Muhammad. Mike from Seychelles.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:18
113631290
James : They don't care if you are tolerant or not. what they care is that you are one of them and you practice what they preach.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:18
113631290
Tim in New York: I'd bet it was the tolerance that was being attacked - one hateful religious group is made stronger by the presence of other hateful religious groups, but tolerance undermines the whole fear/hate dynamic.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:09
113631290
Ayotunde
Suicide bomb in Sweden... and we wonder why the rise in far right nationalism is becoming attractive in these european countries...
Comment sent via Facebook
18:09
113631290
Audrey in Canada: All the wars and security measures were supposed to make us so much safer. Instead we are more polarized since 9/11. When will we wake up and embrace disadvantaged children?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:08
113631290
Mohammed in Nigeria
This goes to show that no country is safe from terrorists, no matter how tolerant it may be.
Sweden suicide atack
| Monday, 12 Dec. 2010 | 17:56 - 19:56 GMT
There is huge shock in Sweden following the suicide bombing in the capital Stockholm over the weekend.
Unconfirmed reports suggest it was carried out by an Iraqi Muslim extremist, Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, who was based in the British town of Luton.
It is the first time a suicide bomber has struck the country, and the first terror attack there of any kind since the 1970s - although there have been attacks on leading figures since then, such as the 1986 assassination of the prime minister or the 2003 stabbing of foreign minister Anna Lindh.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on Sunday said the attack was "unacceptable" but urged Swedes not to jump to "premature conclusions" that "create tension which paints pictures that are then difficult to change."
"Sweden is an open society... which has stated a wish that people should be able to have different backgrounds, believe in different in gods, and live side by side."
But is that possible?
Reports are now suggesting that one of the motivations for the attack was a Swedish cartoon that depicted Islam's prophet Muhammad as a dog.
And Magnus Norell of the Swedish Defence Research Agency has said Sweden has the same problems to contend with around radicalisation as anywhere else:
"The whole idea is that this is a global war for them and that the target exists everywhere, all over the world."
Does what happened in Sweden show that even countries famed for tolerance cannot expect to be safe? Why has Sweden been attacked now? What's your reaction to what has happened?
Your comments
Comment sent via SMS
The UN and the AU to take power by force from Bakbo and hand over to Watara whether he like it or not instead of wasting time with him Bakbo is up to know better he is not a Chirld it is better for him to go to the Village and look for palm wine to encourage himself and give peace a chance to Watara shame on him big man big fool Mohamed Bawa F Town
Comment sent via Facebook
Dennis in Nigeria: For Ivory Coast not to be drown in war again, Laurent Gbagbo should not contemplate attacking Quattara and his security guards. He should forget any idea of power sharing deal as well. He should just realise the people dont want him again and hand over to the president-elect.
Comment sent via SMS
Please mr. Gbagbo step down and let peace rain in I’vry cost. Emilia in makeni, sierra leone
Comment sent via SMS
Comment: Africa is now a grave yard of democracy, we have been gunning down democracy. Mr. Gbagbo, Ivory Coast is for all ivorians. Dr. Elima, moroto, uganda
Comment sent via Facebook
Ehi: The solution is confederation of the North and the South. The North has already achieved a successful rebellion.There is some logic in the allegation of President Gbagbo that the election in the North was rigged because the region is controlled by rebels.
Comment sent via Facebook
Joseph in Zambia: Democracy has brought more bad than good in africa. Power sharing has became the older of the day and its a drain to the tax payer.
Comment sent via Facebook
Moses in Kampala: It is so unfortunate that it is a characteristic of leaders on the continent holding onto power as tightly as possible. I'm amazed that these are people really advanced in age. What picture are they showing to the young generation?
Comment sent via Facebook
Judith in Zambia: Africa is full of selfish leaders. Gbagbo is just one of them. When are these people going to get it, presidents come and go - it's the rule of law for crying out loud!
Comment sent via Feed
Najib in Nairobi texted in: The terrorist in the Sweden bombing is a mad man and does not represent Islam! He’s a lone lunatic!
Comment sent via Feed
Robin in Berlin emailed in: I think the question that should be asked more often is why is that such a high proportion of Islam's adherents are prone to extremism?
Comment sent via Feed
Ray emails us from Colorado: I admire Sweden's care of all its people, but Sweden needs to withdraw from Afghanistan, known as the "grave yard of empires". Just because American leaders pay no attention to history, Sweden's leaders now should.
Comment sent via Facebook
I think they sow hatred, hate towards Islam and muslims, Now they reaping their results. They must stop making fun with their cartoons of our beloved prophet and respect our religion. Other wise they will feel the effect of mokery by angry followers of Muhammad. Mike from Seychelles.
Comment sent via Facebook
James : They don't care if you are tolerant or not. what they care is that you are one of them and you practice what they preach.
Comment sent via Facebook
Tim in New York: I'd bet it was the tolerance that was being attacked - one hateful religious group is made stronger by the presence of other hateful religious groups, but tolerance undermines the whole fear/hate dynamic.
Comment sent via Facebook
Ayotunde Suicide bomb in Sweden... and we wonder why the rise in far right nationalism is becoming attractive in these european countries...
Comment sent via Facebook
Audrey in Canada: All the wars and security measures were supposed to make us so much safer. Instead we are more polarized since 9/11. When will we wake up and embrace disadvantaged children?
Comment sent via Facebook
Mohammed in Nigeria This goes to show that no country is safe from terrorists, no matter how tolerant it may be.