Swedish police ‘missed’ bomber email for hours

Sources in Sweden said that Abdaly’s email, which contained a threatening audio message, arrived in Säpo’s (Swedish security services) email inbox at around 4.40pm – 10 minutes before the first explosive was detonated – but was not read until 9.10pm.

Säpo’s Head of Security, Anders Thornberg, admitted that failure top pick up the message earlier was an error and pledged that officers would make sure they read emails continuously.

However, he said that even if the message had been viewed earlier, itr would not have helped to prevent the attack; partly because it arrived just 10 minutes before Abdaly detonated explosives in his car, but mainly because the message did not actually warn that an attack was in the offing.

However, the failure to read the email sooner provoked a terse reaction from Walter Kegö, former head of CID.

“It’s a terrible scandal.” he said.

“Where it’s a matter of 20-30 minutes (after the email has been sent) OK, (but) if there’s a delay for hours, no chance!

“This is a management problem. Anyone in this profession would never accept this. Our managers/leaders are not good enough in both the police and Säpo. They are not capable of dealing with this.”

Mr Kego’s comments were echoed by Justice Minister Beatrice Ask, who said: “This time there was no information in the message which could have changed what happened, but still – I share the view that reactions have to be quicker.”

Aluminium powder

There are also suggestions circulating that a possible reason for the ultimate failure of Abdaly’s failed mission was down not being able to secure a vital component for his explosives.

On Tuesday 7 December, Abdaly tried to buy aluminium powder from a specialist hardware store in Stockholm, but its owner did not have any in stock and sent him away empty-handed.

Following Abdaly’s suicide, owner Christer Ahlen recognised his white Audi car and contacted police.

He told them that Abdaly behaved calmly and was polite.

He said: “I asked what he wanted it for and he said it was for his lorry.

“It feels uncomfortable, you think about what would have happened if we had what he asked for.”

Body remains unidentified

Meanwhile, Swedish police said that it had received over 400 tips from the public and many witnesses have been questioned.

And five days after the attack, officers are still reluctant to officially identify the bomber as Abdaly.

The bomber’s body has undergone an autopsy, but his identity has not yet been determined to 100 per cent.