Latest news with #Abdo
Rudaw Net
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Swedish gang leader arrested in Turkey
Also in World UN nuclear watchdog inspectors leave Iran US sanctions Iraqi network over Iranian oil smuggling Kurdistan's Zakho, Minnesota's Moorhead forge friendship pact US renews call on Baghdad to 'rein in' pro-Iran militia groups A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish police have arrested Ismail Abdo, a Swedish gang leader and former associate of the Kurdish Fox wanted internationally for drug trafficking and violent crimes. Abdo was caught with 19 others in an investigation by Turkish and Swedish law enforcement. 'Turkish police have in a police operation in Turkey today arrested a Swedish man who for many years is suspected of having conducted serious drug crimes and instigated serious violent crimes in Sweden,' read a statement from Sweden's police on Friday. 'The arrest is a result of targeted work over time between Turkish and Swedish judiciary. Swedish police have contributed to the investigative work that led to the arrest," Mats Berggren, acting deputy chief at Sweden's National Operations Department was quoted as saying in the statement. The investigation targeted three criminal organizations - one led by Abdo - resulting in the arrest of 19 suspects for drug trafficking and money laundering, according to Turkey's state-owned Anadolu Agency, which named Abdo as one of those arrested. The multi-city operation took place in Istanbul, Adana, Mersin, Mugla and Antalya. The joint operation also led to the seizure of 1.4 tons of drugs in Sweden. Ismail Abdo, born in Uppsala, Sweden in 1990 and often referred to by his nickname 'Jordgubben' (The Strawberry), has been a central figure in Sweden's escalating gang conflicts. His nickname stems from his family's business importing strawberries into Sweden. He is known for leading the internationally-active Rumba criminal network, which has been in a deadly feud with the Foxtrot network, led by his former close ally Rawa Majid, also known as 'the Kurdish Fox.' The conflict led to Abdo's mother being killed by Foxtrot in September 2023. Rawa Majid remains a fugitive and there have been reports from Sweden's intelligence agency SAPO that he works with the Iranian government. Abdo is also linked to the murder of Harris Lars Osterdahl in Bosnia-Herzegovina and international drug trafficking using the encrypted "Anom" communication program. A Turkish citizen, Abdo was arrested last year in Turkey for possession of a firearm. He was released on bail, despite being sought by Sweden. He was also wanted in Norway on suspicion of involvement in murder plots and drug offenses. Earlier this year, Interpol added him to its list of the world's most wanted criminals. Swedish authorities have long sought Abdo's arrest, pursuing extensive cooperation with Turkey, according to Swedish media SVT. Due to his Turkish citizenship, Sweden has also pursued a transferred prosecution, which would allow him to be tried in Turkey instead of Sweden.
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Straits Times
Turkey arrests one of Sweden's most-wanted suspected gang leaders
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox STOCKHOLM/ISTANBUL - One of Sweden's most-wanted suspected gang leaders was taken into custody in Turkey on Friday during a raid on suspected drug traffickers, in what Swedish police described as a major success in the battle against organised crime. "The arrest is the result of targeted work over time between the Turkish and Swedish judicial systems," Swedish police said in a statement. The statement did not identify the suspect, but a Swedish police source and Turkey's TRT Haber state television broadcaster said he was Ismail Abdo, 35, a Swedish-Turkish dual citizen. More than 12 people have been killed in Sweden since 2023, including Abdo's mother, in what police have described as a gang war between Abdo and a former ally. TRT Haber reported that Abdo was among 19 suspects detained as part of a major investigation into organised criminal groups involved in international drug trafficking and money laundering. Authorities also seized assets worth around 1.5 billion Turkish lira ($38 million). Arrest warrants were issued for a further 21 suspects, with four still at large, 14 believed to be abroad and three already in custody on other charges. In Sweden, the capture of Abdo will provide a major boost for the police and for the right-wing government, which won the 2022 election on a promise to stop a gang crime wave that has plagued the country for over a decade. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Singapore Seller's stamp duty hike will curb short-term speculation; market effect likely minimal: Analysts Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Think like criminals, anticipate cyber-attack tactics: Experts Singapore Tourism bump from Lady Gaga concerts raked in up to estimated $150m for Singapore economy Life Book review: OB Markers sequel Ink And Influence makes catch-22 proposal for The Straits Times
Local Sweden
04-07-2025
- Local Sweden
Swedish police confirm arrest of notorious gang leader Ismail Abdo in Turkey
Internationally wanted Swedish gang criminal Ismail Abdo, also known as 'The Strawberry', has been arrested in Turkey, Swedish police have confirmed. Advertisement "Today, Turkish police arrested a Swedish man in a police operation in Turkey who is suspected of carrying out serious narcotics crimes for many years, as well as instigating gross violent crimes in Sweden," Swedish police wrote in a press statement. Turkish news bureau Anatolia was first to report on Abdo's arrest, which has now been confirmed by Swedish police. "The arrest is the result of targeted efforts by Swedish and Turkish authorities," Mats Berggren, acting deputy head of the police's National Operations Department (NOA) wrote in the statement. "Swedish police have assisted in the investigation which led to the arrest." According to media reports, Abdo is reportedly one of 19 suspects arrested in a large-scale operation carried out by Turkish authorities in multiple different cities in the country. State prosecutor Daniel Jonsson is working on a number of cases Abdo is involved in. "I've put out an international warrant for him and he's also listed on Interpol," he told TT, although he did not comment on why ‒ or whether ‒ Abdo has been arrested this time. "We've been working for a long time to try and get him back to Sweden," Jonsson said. Abdo was previously the right-hand man of Rawa Majid, leader of the Foxtrot gang. He fell out with Majid in 2023, sparking a wave of deadly shootings in Sweden. Since then, arresting him has been one of the Swedish police force's top priorities. He is wanted in Sweden for multiple drugs offences and for anstiftan till försök till mord, instigating attempted murder. Advertisement Abdo holds Turkish citizenship and was arrested in 2024 by police in Turkey during a traffic control. He was released on bail despite the international warrant against him.
Al-Ahram Weekly
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Barely deciphered - Culture - Al-Ahram Weekly
Hala ElKoussy's narrative feature debut was Zahrat Al-Sabbar (Cactus flower, 2017). Sharq 12 (East of Noon), her second, premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Director's Fortnight section and has participated in festivals and events around the world since then, but the first Egypt screening of the film in Egypt took place only last week at Cinema Zawya. The film opens with subtitles giving the location: the colony of Sharq 12 (the latter, as the English title indicates, a reference to noon). It is clear this won't be a mainstream experience. The title carries two values. One is geographic (east), the other temporal. It would never become clear what the metaphorical interpretation of the title is, though it suggests this is a space outside the world as we know it, as if the action is taking place in a space-time gap. This is also suggested by the fact that all the clocks and watches in the film don't work. The filmmaker-screenwriter sets her black comedy in the dystopian atmosphere of a remote village or colony near an abandoned industrial facility, which adds to its isolation. Each character symbolise a concept. At the beginning a female narrator (Menha Al-Batraoui) is telling the story of a couple with a young child escaping by the seashore. One of the first scenes shows the main character, Abdo (Omar Rozik) in his room playing percussions using slippers and old plastic water tubes. Abdo and his friend are drinking tea, however this simple act reflects the fact that sugar cubes are a rare commodity. In another scene sugar becomes a kind of currency. The two friends are seen burying a body with one of the security forces, and when they finish the job they are paid in sugar boxes. Shawki Al-Bahlawan (Ahmed Kamal) is the most powerful man in the village. His introductory scene quickly shows the luxury he lives in as he appears in his house wearing a bathrobe before he starts his work of following up on what is happening in the colony. In another scene he takes a box of sugar cubes out of his drawer and sniffs them passionately as he might do with banknotes. Shawki performs in a theatrical show in front of the colony's audience. This performance combines public speech with acting and dancing. The character represents the colony's power mixed with clownish behaviour in line with the name Al-Bahlawan, which though a known surname actually means clown. Galala (Al-Batraoui) is Abdo's grandmother and a character that may be seen as the opposite of Shawki. She is among the ordinary people of the community helping them to meet their needs by letting them barter unnecessary belongings for the contents of her shop-office. On the other hand, her main activity is telling the children of the colony stories about the sea while they act as if they swim on the office floor. In one of the most significant scenes in the film, Abdo confronts his grandmother about this. She says that imagination is a cure and he replies that imagination is a sedative. Shawki's authority is executed by armed men who represent the colony's security forces headed by Borai (Osama Abul-Atta). As a character Borai shows aggression against those who don't comply with what Shawki orders. He sexually exploits Nuna (Fayza Shama) by locking her in the toilet of the security office where he works, not only having sex with her himself but passing her onto all the other security personnel as well. Nuna, who is a free spirit forced against her will to have sex with all of these people, is in love with Abdo. However, she is pregnant and doesn't know who the father is. She only believes that escaping with Abdo from the colony may give her a better future. Most films about authoritarian oppression end with chaotic revolt, and Elkoussy's is no exception: Abdo, who is working with music and sound recording, fakes a message from Shawki using his old speeches telling all the people that there is a treasure in the area where they bury the bodies. It is clear Elkoussy is influenced by the late filmmaker Youssef Chahine, which is clear from characters like the lame man who wears a galabiya and moves around the village lusting after and perhaps harassing Nuna. He looks exactly like Qenawi, the main character of the Chahine's Bab Al-Hadid (Chahine himself played the role). In fact Abdo has similar features with Ibrahim, the young man in Chahine's The Return of The Prodigal Son. Both are obsessed with leaving the chaotic isolated place they live in and travel seeking a wider future. It is interesting that Egyptian cinema produces various kinds of films. Some have the attention of large audiences while others are only accepted by a few. But in the end such diversity represents a deeper value for the entire film and cultural industry alike. It is true that the core of creativity in general is built somehow on references and metaphors, but symbolism since its emergence as a movement in the 19th century has demonstrated an extreme notion regarding metaphors. Opposed to both naturalism and realism, symbolism gave artists the freedom to express their thoughts against the widespread political dominance of one-sided thought or even harassment by dictatorial authorities. Visually, ElKoussy's film is beautiful. Shot on 16 mm film black and white celluloid, the beautifully composed picture has a noticeable roughness. The DOP Abdel-Salam Moussa created an alluring image, while Ahmed Al-Sawy composed a peculiar score. However, the filmmaker may have relied too heavily on symbolic motifs, complex ideas, and layered messages, which became overwhelming for much of the audience. The capacity to grip the audience's emotions and sympathy was lost too often as the film engaged the intellect, but after losing the emotional connection it is not easy to satisfy the minds. Even experienced cinephiles felt the film lost the soul of its story, the primary means of capturing the viewers' attention. And in the end this made its intellectual and artistic power ring hollow. * A version of this article appears in print in the 3 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- The Citizen
Notorious Swedish crime kingpin arrested in Turkey
The 35-year-old – one of Sweden's most wanted criminals – was arrested by Turkish security forces during a raid. The head of one of Sweden's biggest crime organisations, accused of instigating a surge in violent crime, has been arrested in Turkey, Swedish police said Friday. Police did not identify the man by name but Swedish media named his as 35-year-old Ismail Abdo, head of the Rumba crime organisation and alleged to have been orchestrating operations from abroad. Abdo is one of Sweden's most wanted criminals, with an international arrest warrant issued for him in 2024. Organised crime in Sweden The Scandinavian country, once known for its low crime rates, has struggled for years to rein in organised crime. Criminal networks are involved in drug and arms trafficking, welfare fraud, and regular shootings and bombings that have plagued the country in recent years. The networks are also reported to have infiltrated Sweden's welfare sector, local politics, legal and education system as well as juvenile detention care. The leaders of the criminal networks increasingly operate from abroad, orchestrating murders and attacks via social media and often recruiting young children under the age of criminal responsibility to carry out the attacks. ALSO READ: Son of Norway princess suspected of three rapes Most wanted Abdo once led the Foxtrot crime network together with Rawa Majid — Sweden's other most wanted criminal — and the two are suspected of having controlled large parts of the Swedish drug market. But the pair fell out in 2023, and a wave of ruthless, escalating violence was triggered when Abdo's mother was shot dead in September 2023 in an act of revenge. Abdo's Rumba gang has since waged a violent feud against Majid and Foxtrot. Abdo's arrest Abdo was arrested in a raid conducted by Turkish security forces, police said. 'In a law enforcement operation in Turkey, Turkish police have today arrested a Swedish man who for many years has been suspected of drug-related crimes and instigating serious violent crimes in Sweden,' police said in a statement. 'The arrest is the result of targeted work over time between Turkish and Swedish judicial systems,' Mats Berggren, acting deputy chief at the Swedish police's National Operations Department (NOA), said in the statement. NOW READ: French prosecutors seek murder charge for school stabbing suspect
