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Sweden eyes tougher sentences for "terror" training trips

Xinhua, December 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Swedish government on Friday said it wanted those who train with violent extremists abroad to risk up to six years' imprisonment.

Undergoing "terrorism training" would be criminalized under a new proposal, the country's justice ministry said and urged the Swedish parliament to mandate longer sentences for financing such trips and funding "terrorists and terror organizations."

"Terrorism constitutes a real threat to safety in Sweden and abroad. Sweden must have sharp and comprehensive laws and effective preventive measures in this area," the ministry's statement read.

Training to commit "terror crimes" would be punishable by up to six years in prison, while traveling to another country to enter such training could render sentences up to two years, the government said.

Funding terror organizations would result in a maximum six-year sentence, while funding a training trip would be punishable by up to two years in prison. The government wants the new sanctions to be introduced in April next year.

Last month, Sweden's security service Sapo said it had confirmed 100 cases of Swedish citizens traveling to join violent jihadist extremists in Syria and Iraq and was monitoring another 200 reported instances. Endit