Svea hovrätt has increased the prison sentence for 19-year-old Faris Al Abdullah after determining his planned murder in Germany was more serious than initially assessed. The court raised his sentence from seven years and ten months to nine years and ten months for planning a terrorist attack in Stockholm and attempting a murder in Germany.
According to court documents, Al Abdullah planned to carry out a suicide bombing at a cultural festival in Stockholm in August of last year. He had begun manufacturing a bomb for the attack. Simultaneously, he traveled to the German town of Eppstein with a younger friend to attempt a murder they believed had been ordered by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.
significantly more serious than the district court had considered
Hovrättsrådet Sven Jönson stated in a release that the German murder plot was 'significantly more serious than the district court had considered.' The court noted that the defendants traveled to Germany specifically to commit murder, came far in their criminal planning, and believed they were acting on orders from IS.
The attempted murder in Germany involved trying to lure a man from his home in Eppstein to stab him to death. Two attempts were made, but the target's son became suspicious and intervened. When confronted, the Swedish teenagers claimed to be tourists before fleeing the scene.
Al Abdullah was originally convicted in January for preparation of terrorist crimes, preparation for murder, participation in a terrorist organization, training for terrorism, and preparation of crimes against laws on flammable and explosive goods. His younger accomplice received youth custody for the planned murder in Germany.