Iran Accused of Massive SMS Cyberattack Over Quran Burnings in Sweden

Swedish authorities have accused Iran's Revolutionary Guard of sending thousands of text messages calling for revenge following Quran burnings in Sweden in 2023. The cyberattack, which targeted an SMS service, was aimed at destabilizing Sweden and painting it as an Islamophobic country. Iran has not responded to these accusations.

Swedish authorities have accused Iran of orchestrating a massive SMS cyberattack following Quran burnings in 2023. The attack, blamed on Iran's Revolutionary Guard, targeted an SMS service and sent approximately 15,000 text messages in Swedish, calling for revenge.

According to senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist, the investigation by Sweden's SAPO security agency identified Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as responsible for the data breach. The Swedish company affected by the attack remains unnamed, and Iran has yet to comment on the allegations.

The attacks come amid ongoing tensions over Sweden's respect for free speech and religious sensitivities, an issue that complicated the country's accession to NATO. SAPO's operational manager Fredrik Hallström stated the messages aimed to depict Sweden as an Islamophobic nation and sow societal division, indicating an alarming trend in foreign aggression.

(With inputs from agencies.)