A government official accidentally left a confidential file at Arlanda Airport following Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's trip to Turkey in 2022 to discuss Sweden's NATO membership. The file, found by a cleaner, contained sensitive documents related to talks with Turkey. Despite the incident, no security assessment was conducted, and it was not reported to the Security Police.
Secret Government File Left at Arlanda Airport After NATO Meeting
Secret Government File Left at Arlanda Airport After NATO Meeting
A government official forgot a secret government file at Arlanda Airport following Ulf Kristersson's trip to Turkey in 2022 in connection with the NATO process, reports Dagens Nyheter. It was found by a cleaner in a restroom, according to the newspaper.
In November 2022, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson traveled to Turkey to meet President Erdogan and discuss the approval of Sweden as a NATO member.
After the trip, an official left a file in a restroom in the terminal.
The file contained partially classified documents. According to DN's information, the documents concerned the talks with Turkey.
Not Reported
The employee reported the incident to the Government Offices' security department, but no damage assessment was made after the incident. The incident was also not reported to the Security Police.
The Government Offices' press service confirms the incident and writes to DN that it was not reported as the assessment was that the file did not contain security-classified information, meaning information that could harm Sweden's security.
Government Office files usually contain reports with background facts and talking points. According to DN, parts of the file were covered by foreign secrecy, meaning the information could damage Sweden's relations with other states if disclosed.
The Government Offices do not want to disclose to DN how long the file was missing.
Employee Not Allowed to Take a Taxi
The officials who traveled back from Turkey on the government plane were not allowed to take a taxi but were driven to the regular terminal by airport staff to continue with public transport, according to DN.
The regulation that prevented them from taking a taxi has reportedly been criticized at the Government Offices.
Internally, the employee stated that the mistake occurred because the trip was pressured and intense.
Multiple Incidents
The incident is one of several security incidents that have occurred under the Kristersson government. The former national security advisor Henrik Landerholm has been in hot water as he has been involved in several incidents, including forgetting classified documents at a course center. Landerholm is now charged with negligence with a secret task.