Sweden at higher risk of terrorism after Quran burnings

Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics.

What is the story about the new terrorist threat against Sweden?

Well, it is worrying. The security authorities back home have now elevated the threat level from three to four on a scale of five. And that's the consequences, of course, of the Quran burnings that have happened in both Sweden and Denmark during the past few weeks. And that had led to, understandably so, a very strong reaction, primarily in the Muslim countries. These are irresponsible acts done by isolated individuals. The authorities in both countries are seeing what legal actions could be taken, but in the meantime, a very difficult situation that needs to be handled by the Swedish and Danish authorities.

What is the European reaction to the different legal troubles of Donald Trump?

Well, I think Europeans are following this with interest, needless to say, without necessarily going into all of the legal details, which are quite complicated from a European point of view. But the main thing is, of course, that what we see is that Donald Trump, in spite of all of this, seems to be sailing towards being nominated to be the Republican nominee for the presidency. And the possibility that he will, in fact, be elected a year and a half from now or something like that. And that is a prospect that fills most Europeans, most, not necessarily all, but certainly most Europeans with, what can only be described as sheer horror.