Five teenagers have gone on trial in Sweden over the alleged attempted murder of Arvin Khoshnood, a dissident researcher known for his opposition to the Iranian government.
The trial, being held behind closed doors at the Gothenburg District Court, involves suspects aged between 15 and 17. Three of the youths are charged with attempted murder, while the remaining two face charges of complicity.
According to prosecutors, the incident took place on September 2, 2025, in Malmö, when a 16-year-old suspect allegedly approached Khoshnood’s home armed with a knife and attempted to gain entry by asking his wife if he was present.
Khoshnood, who had previously received threats, reportedly became suspicious and instructed his wife to close the door. He also took a photograph of the suspect, which later proved critical to the investigation. He was not physically harmed in the incident. Since the alleged attack, Khoshnood and his family have been relocated to protected accommodation due to ongoing security concerns.
Prosecutors say the teenager who approached the house had been recruited via messaging apps and promised payment to carry out the attack. They allege that other defendants, along with an unidentified mastermind, provided instructions, supplied the weapon, and negotiated the terms of the planned killing.
Prosecutor Per-Erik Rinsell described the case as an example of “crime as a service,” where young individuals are recruited by organised crime networks to carry out violent acts.
Khoshnood believes the plot was orchestrated by Foxtrot, a major criminal network in Sweden. The group’s alleged leader, Rawa Majid, has been linked in reports to Iranian authorities. Khoshnood is known for supporting Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last Shah of Iran, and frequently appears in Swedish media as an expert on Iranian affairs.
Sweden’s security agency, Swedish Security Service, has previously identified Iran as a significant national security threat, accusing it of using criminal gangs within Sweden to target opposition figures and foreign interests, allegations denied by Iran.
Authorities say the wider geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have increased risks to US, Israeli, and Jewish interests in Sweden. One of the teenagers in the case also faces separate allegations of planning to bomb the headquarters of Aimpoint in Malmö, while several of the accused are linked to another attempted murder in Uddevalla shortly after the alleged attack on Khoshnood.