After Stockholm Attack, More Swedes Say Country Going in ‘Right Direction’

More people in Sweden believe the nation is heading in the “right direction” following the Islamic State-linked terror attack in Stockholm earlier this month.

On 7 April, a failed asylum seeker from Uzbekistan took a stolen lorry on a rampage through the nation’s capital, killing four and injuring at least 15.

The attack followed an unprecedented year of uncontrolled mass immigration, meaning Sweden accepted more migrants than any other European nation per capita.

However, following the tumultuous events, more Swedish citizens seem to be happy with how their country is changing.

Market research firm Sifo asked about 1,000 people if Sweden, as a whole, is on the right path or the wrong path, according to SVT.

Before the Stockholm attack, 43 per cent of respondents said Sweden is heading in the wrong direction, while 32 per cent were positive.

After the terror attack, those with a negative outlook had fallen to 41 per cent, while the proportion who thought Sweden is on the right track increased to 37 per cent. Around 22 per cent were undecided.

Toivo Sjörén, the opinion director of Sifo, explained that it is mainly women who are becoming more positive since the deadly events in Stockholm.

“I think it depends on how the attack is handled by the authorities. The police and the government have acted in a way that people seem to think is good, and then it becomes a part of Sweden’s image and how it works,” he said.

Sweden’s government is a coalition made up of the prime minister’s Social Democrat Party and the Greens.

Following the attack, Stefan Lofven said he was “frustrated” the terrorist was someone who had illegally migrated to Sweden, ostensibly in search of safety and refuge.

Sweden has long been known for its open-door policy toward migrants. But, after the Scandinavian country of 10 million took in a record 163,000 asylum seekers in 2015, the government has tried to be more selective about which newcomers it allows to stay.

Swedish police said earlier this month they had received roughly 12,500 referrals from the Swedish Migration Board of people who, like the suspect in the truck attack, had overstayed their welcome.