Police in Sweden allowed several Quran burnings to go ahead even as politicians condemned the acts of desecration. Getty Images
Police in Sweden allowed several Quran burnings to go ahead even as politicians condemned the acts of desecration. Getty Images
Police in Sweden allowed several Quran burnings to go ahead even as politicians condemned the acts of desecration. Getty Images
Police in Sweden allowed several Quran burnings to go ahead even as politicians condemned the acts of desecration. Getty Images

Two arrested over 'ISIS revenge plot' for Quran burnings in Sweden


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

Two men have been arrested for allegedly plotting an ISIS mass shooting in Sweden in retaliation at the burning of the Quran.

The two Afghan nationals, identified as Ibrahim MG and Ramin N, were held in Germany on Tuesday.

It is alleged they made concrete plans to open fire on police and members of the public near the Swedish parliament in Stockholm.

Prosecutors claim they planned the attack with ISIS representatives and made several failed attempts to buy weapons.

Investigators believe an attack was ordered by Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), a branch of the militant group active in Afghanistan.

The plot was allegedly drawn up in the summer of 2023 after a spate of incidents in which the Quran was desecrated in public.

The burnings in Sweden and Denmark led to a backlash in the Muslim world and a debate over the limits of free speech.

The two suspects allegedly researched the area around the Swedish parliament in Stockholm as part of their attack planning. EPA
The two suspects allegedly researched the area around the Swedish parliament in Stockholm as part of their attack planning. EPA

It is claimed Ibrahim MG joined a German branch of ISIS-K last August, having previously raised money for militants in Syria with the help of Ramin N.

The two men drew up attack plans after Ibrahim MG was given instructions to stage an attack “as a reaction to burnings of the Quran”, according to prosecutors.

“From then on, Ibrahim MG planned together with Ramin N to shoot dead police officers and others in the area of the Swedish parliament,” said the German prosecution office that handles terrorism cases.

“For that purpose, they both made concrete preparations in consultation with ISIS-K operatives. In particular, they did research on the internet about the conditions on the ground and tried several times, although without success, to acquire weapons.”

The two men are expected to be brought before a judge on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Ibrahim MG is suspected of being an ISIS member and supporter. Ramin N is a suspected supporter.

Both men are suspected of conspiracy to commit crimes and breaches of a foreign trade law that covers weapons.

Security services raised Sweden’s terrorist threat level from “elevated” to “high” last August, warning the country had become a “prioritised target”.

Ministers have condemned the burning of the Quran but are still weighing up whether to tighten laws on incitement.

Muslims across the region condemn burning of Quran in Sweden - in pictures

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Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

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The Outsider

Stephen King, Penguin

Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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While you're here
Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

The specs

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km

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%3Cp%3EYe%20%E2%80%94%20the%20rapper%20formerly%20known%20as%20Kanye%20West%20%E2%80%94%20has%20seen%20his%20net%20worth%20fall%20to%20%24400%20million%20in%20recent%20weeks.%20That%E2%80%99s%20a%20precipitous%20drop%20from%20Bloomberg%E2%80%99s%20estimates%20of%20%246.8%20billion%20at%20the%20end%20of%202021.%3Cbr%3EYe%E2%80%99s%20wealth%20plunged%20after%20business%20partners%2C%20including%20Adidas%2C%20severed%20ties%20with%20him%20on%20the%20back%20of%20anti-Semitic%20remarks%20earlier%20this%20year.%3Cbr%3EWest%E2%80%99s%20present%20net%20worth%20derives%20from%20cash%2C%20his%20music%2C%20real%20estate%20and%20a%20stake%20in%20former%20wife%20Kim%20Kardashian%E2%80%99s%20shapewear%20firm%2C%20Skims.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

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- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Another way to earn air miles

In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.

An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.

“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.

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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

THREE
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Non-oil%20trade
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
MATCH INFO

Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206-cylinder%203-litre%2C%20with%20petrol%20and%20diesel%20variants%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20286hp%20(petrol)%2C%20249hp%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E450Nm%20(petrol)%2C%20550Nm%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EStarting%20at%20%2469%2C800%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: March 19, 2024, 2:12 PM`