Why Quran Burning Is Making Nordic Leaders So Anxious
TimeAug 15, 2023
Brussels on High Alert After Deadly Shootings
The Facts
Belgium is on its highest terror alert after two Swedish nationals were fatally shot and a third person was injured in an alleged terror attack in Brussels.
The shooting, which took place near the 50K-capacity King Baudouin Stadium on Monday night, forced authorities to call off Belgium's Euro 2024 qualifier against Sweden at halftime.
The Spin
Narrative A
It's tragic and unacceptable that the two soccer fans were killed as they belonged to Sweden, a nation that values liberty and tolerance. While the full scope of the motive has yet to be ascertained, if it was really a revenge killing against Quran burnings in Sweden, Stockholm must continue protecting free speech in the face of religious hatred and xenophobia.
Narrative B
Stockholm must not allow incendiary demonstrations that provoke terrorists who commit such heinous crimes in the name of religion. This tragic shooting is a shocking act of terrorism, and the string of Quran-burning incidents in Sweden in recent months enraged Muslim communities around the world and fueled an extremist response.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance at least 25K deaths will be caused by terrorism globally in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.