Terrorist crime in another country

Before you go

If you are going to travel abroad it is your personal responsibility to get informed and updated about possible threats and risks in the country you are travelling to. The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has a website, swedenabroad.se, with information about the security situation and possible terrorist threats in every country, under the heading Terrorism.

The website also has a general page with the heading Terrorism och hot utomlands (Terrorism and threats abroad). The information is available in Swedish only. The krisinformation.se website also has information about important preparations or for a trip abroad. The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has an app called Resklar which uses location services and push notifications to provide information about the place you are in.

Insurance coverage

One way to take personal responsibility for unforeseen incidents during travels abroad is to have an insurance policy. You need to know what your insurance policy covers. All home insurance policies in Sweden include travel insurance that is valid for 45 days. Depending on the circumstances you may need to increase the travel coverage of your home insurance policy, or take out other insurance that specifically covers your trip. The Swedish Consumers’ Insurance Bureau provides impartial advice on insurance matters.

The European Health Insurance Card, EHIC, can be ordered on Försäkringskassan’s website and is important in order for you to be able to get medical care in EU countries.

Reporting to the police

If you have been the victim of an incident that is being treated as a terrorist crime while you are in another country you should make a report to the local police. This is important in order for the authorities to be able to document that you were in the location.

In acute emergency situations, call the emergency 112 number, which is the same in all EU countries. Emergency numbers in countries outside of the EU may be available on the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs website swedenabroad.se

If the crime was committed in an EU member state you can make a police report in Sweden afterwards. The Swedish police will then send your report to the police in the country where the crime was committed.

Practical help

If you are subjected to an incident that is being treated as a terrorist crime in another country and you need help with medical care, travelling home and other practical concerns, you should first of all make a notification of a claim with your insurance company. You can also contact one of the public safety answering points (PSAPs) that insurance companies collaborate with, and which are open around the clock. If you don’t know which PSAP your insurance company works with, you can contact the insurance company with which you have home or travel insurance. The terms and conditions of your insurance policy determines what help you can get in terms of medical care, transportation and support. They also determine how much you are eligible to receive in compensation.

If you don’t have your own home insurance policy you may be covered by the home insurance policy of a person you share a household with.

You can get medical care in EU countries by using your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Support in the event of a terrorist crime in another country

In the European Union

Within the EU, victims of terrorism must be given information about their rights and about support and compensation in the member state where the crime was committed, as well as in the member state in which they live.

Victim Support Europe is an organisation for crime victims and can convey support in the country where the terrorist crime was committed as well as in Sweden. Their goal is to give crime victims information and support regardless of where they live or of where the crime took place. Victim Support Europe has an English-language website with information about what to do if there is a terrorist attack near you. It also has information about providers of help to crime victims in several countries.

Victims of terrorist crimes in another country, and their families, can also turn to the Church of Sweden’s representatives in other countries. They have extensive experience of supporting people in emergency situations, and provide counselling.

Faith communities in the country were the crime was committed can also bring people together and support them in moments of grief and crisis. The Swedish Agency for Support to Faith Communities has a website with information about emergency management.

If you are resident in Sweden and have experienced a terrorist attack in another country you are entitled to care and support when you return to Sweden. Contact details for providers of care and support can be found under the section Support and help.

Embassies and consulates

The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Swedish embassies can provide advice and help to a person who has been subjected to a crime in another country. The Swedish government has representation in a large number of the world’s countries. The Swedish embassy or consulate in the country where the crime took place can help victims get in touch with authorities and their families. The Resklar app from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs can provide location-specific information about what help is available in the event of serious incidents.

Who is eligible for help?

Swedish citizens, refugees and stateless persons resident in Sweden are eligible to receive help from the Swedish embassy or consulate in the country where they were subjected to crime. In some cases, citizens of other countries who are resident in Sweden are also eligible for help. This also applies to Swedish citizens who are not resident in Sweden.

Contact details for Sweden’s embassies and consulates are available on the Sweden Abroad website and in the Resklar app. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ duty officer is available around the clock and can be reached by calling +46 (0)8 405 50 05 in the event of an emergency situatiuon while you are abroad. If there isn’t a Swedish embassy or consulate in the country where you are, you can turn to embassies or consulates of other EU countries.

Consular financial assistance

It is possible to apply for consular financial assistance if you are faced with an emergency situation or some other severe difficulty abroad. Such assistance may be given to cover the costs of investigation, evidence collection, legal counsel and interpretation immediately after the crime, if you are unable to pay for these yourself. This applies for Swedish citizens resident in Sweden, as well as for refugees and stateless persons resident in Sweden. In special cases, citizens of other countries who are resident in Sweden and Swedish citizens resident abroad can also be given assistance.

Compensation in the event of a terrorist crime in another country

If you were resident in Sweden when you were subjected to a terrorist crime you may be eligible for Swedish criminal injuries compensation even if the crime occurred in another country – within the EU or outside it. Several countries in the EU and outside it have special legislation about compensation to victims of terrorism. Within the EU there are special rules for state compensation to people who are the victims of a crime in an EU member state. If the crime was committed in a country which is not in the EU, you can consult the Swedish embassy in that country for information about compensation.

Damages in the event of a crime in another country

If the perpetrator of a crime is prosecuted for the crime you may be in a position to claim damages for the injuries caused by the crime. It’s a good idea to make a claim for damages from the perpetrator at an early stage of the legal process. You can do so before or during the trial, but the rules for how it is done differ from country to country.

Insurance payment in the event of a crime in another country

A travel insurance policy or the travel cover on your home insurance policy may pay compensation for injuries or illnesses that occur in another country. Contact your insurance company to find out what the terms and conditions are in your case.

State compensation in the event of a crime in another country

Victims of terrorist crimes committed in the EU are entitled to receive information about how to apply for compensation in the country where the attack happened. If you are resident in an EU member state and have been the victim of a terrorist crime in the EU you may be entitled to state compensation in the country where the crime occurred. The Swedish Crime Victim Authority can help you make an application for European criminal injuries compensation if you request it. Since application times can vary between different countries, it is recommended that you make your application as soon as possible after the crime occurred.

For more information

For more information, visit the Swedish Crime Victim Authority’s website: