Swedish Terrorist Charged in Gruesome Death of Jordanian Pilot

The Swedish authorities have charged Osama Krayem, a convicted terrorist, in connection with the horrific murder of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was executed by ISIS in a brutal demonstration in 2015.

Swedish authorities have formally charged Osama Krayem, a 32-year-old Swedish citizen, with war crimes and terrorism related to the death of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh, who was burned alive by ISIS in Syria in 2015. Krayem, currently incarcerated for his involvement in the 2015 and 2016 terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, has denied any wrongdoing regarding the new charges, as reported by the Swedish public broadcaster SVT. His trial is set to commence on June 4.

The Swedish Prosecution Authority revealed last week their plans to hold Krayem accountable for the "execution" of Lt. al-Kasasbeh, alongside other suspected ISIS members. The Jordanian pilot was captured when his aircraft crashed near Raqqa during a mission against ISIS in December 2014. Following the release of a harrowing video depicting his execution, Jordan attempted to negotiate his release through a prisoner exchange.

According to prosecutors, an investigation has concluded that Krayem, along with others, apprehended the pilot while armed and masked, forcibly placing him in a metal cage, which was then ignited, leading to his death. Originating from Malmo, Krayem is believed to have traveled to Syria in September 2014 to join ISIS. In June 2022, he received a 30-year prison sentence for his role in the Paris attacks that claimed 130 lives, as well as for planning an attack on Amsterdam airport. A year later, he was convicted of terrorist murder related to the Brussels attacks, which took 32 lives. He has been temporarily moved from France to Sweden to take part in this upcoming trial.