Swedes brace for war. Citizens rush to download crisis guide as defense officials sound alarm
"Many have said this before me, but allow me to reiterate by the power of my office – a war may erupt in Sweden," stated Bohlin. Bydén added, "It’s simply the end of comfort as we know it."
2:33 PM EST, January 11, 2024
The crisis agency, Myndigeten för samhällsskydd och beredskap (MSB), believes that citizens have taken their warning to heart, as reported by the newspaper Aftonbladet. "When something bad is happening in the world around us, a crisis or other sudden event, it reminds us to start thinking about our own readiness," explained press spokesperson Anna Wennerström."
The MSB's website, which features crucial information on preparing for war and a brochure entitled "If a Crisis or War Comes," is currently being visited en masse by Swedes.
The site typically had about 15,000 visitors a day, but by Monday and Tuesday, this figure reached 240,000 users. The crisis brochure was downloaded 25,000 times in the course of two days, compared to 50-60 times on a normal day before the conference.
"A conference on security policy was recently held, so it's not strange that people are now discussing these issues," Wennerström reasoned.
According to Magnus Christiansson, a scholar from the Norwegian Defense Academy, by issuing such a warning to its citizens, the government wants to explain why it invests so much money in the country's defense. "It's a way to lay the groundwork for setting political and economic priorities and explaining the reasons for their establishment."
