There is an increased threat of terrorism in Sweden, the UK’s foreign ministry is warning as it raises its level of travel warning for Sweden related to the threat of terrorism.

Sweden is now at the highest level for the threat of terror among the Nordic countries, according to a newly updated assessment made on Tuesday, just as the Christmas season approaches, as reported by the Swedish newspaper Expressen.

“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Sweden. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners,” the Foreign & Commonwealth Office states.

“There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.”

The update is “based on updated information and advice on the threat from terrorism in Sweden, reflecting an increased threat”, the ministry says without being more specific.

A year ago, the UK issued warnings of potential attacks for visitors to Christmas markets in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland.

“We are aware that the change has been made, but we don’t comment on assessments made by other countries,” Dag Enander of the Swedish security police Säpo told Expressen.

“They’ve gone from one formula to another, but we can’t review that assessment.”

The Swedish police’s own assessment of the threat level in the country puts it at three on a scale of one to five, meaning “elevated”.

This level has remained unchanged since March 2016, when it was reduced after being placed at “high”, or “four”, for a brief period in 2015.