A Swedish court has convicted four men of belonging to the Islamic State group, carrying out activities such as recruitment and weapons training for the organization, and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from three to six and a half years, Reuters reports.
The Nacka District Court said in a statement that the various activities of these men, who are all Swedish citizens, between 2023 and 2024 showed that they were part of the Islamic militant group IS in Somalia.
"Activities included recruitment for the organization, dissemination of propaganda, weapons training, and counseling," the statement said.
Three of the four men were also charged with preparing a terrorist offense in Sweden on behalf of IS in 2023 and 2024, but were acquitted of this charge, the court said.
"The district court did not consider that there was a sufficiently clear plan for the planned terrorist attack," the statement said.
Prosecutors alleged in an indictment in December that the three men had the intent to kill or injure another person, but did not reveal the specific target of the planned attack.
The defense lawyer for Omar Yasser Ahmed Atiya, 21, who was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, said his client would appeal the verdict.
The defense attorney for Rasmus Erik Johansson, 23, who was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, declined to comment.
Defense lawyers for Elias Mohamed Hakamali, 63, who was sentenced to three years in prison, and Daniel Elias Johansson, 25, who was sentenced to six years, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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