Ex-Luxembourg student convicted on terrorism charges to keep studying chemistry

A former European School student from Luxembourg who was sentenced to eight years in prison for terrorism offences has been allowed to continue his chemistry degree in Sweden, according to documents seen by the Luxemburger Wort.

A criminal court in Luxembourg City in November sentenced the man – known as Alexander H – in November 2025 to eight years in prison for planning terror attacks in Luxembourg, Sweden and the Netherlands, including at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam.

The court suspended his jail time for six years and under the terms of his probation the Swede must attend a deradicalisation programme run by the Respect.lu platform for five years. Reports on his progress are to be submitted to the state prosecutor’s office every six months.

The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, where he began studying in autumn 2023, was seeking to expel Alexander H following his conviction. But the Swedish state’s Higher Education Disciplinary Board has failed to approve the expulsion, documents seem by the Luxemburger Wort show.

His university in Stockholm argued that because of his conviction in Luxembourg, as well as a conviction in 2021 in Sweden for arson, Alexander H could cause harm to others during his studies. KTH also argued that his studies in chemistry means that he could acquire further knowledge which could facilitate other offences.

Students and staff at the university have reportedly also expressed unease following his conviction.

Under Swedish law, a student may be excluded from higher education if they suffer from a mental disorder, abuse alcohol or drugs, or have been found guilty of serious criminal offences, and there is consequently a significant risk that they may endanger other people or their property in the course of their studies.

Alexander H’s lawyer rejected these claims and argued that he poses no future risk. The offences were committed between 2019 and 2020, predominantly whilst he was still a minor, the lawyer argued, while since early 2020, the defendant has distanced himself from the circles and ideologies of that time and shows remorse.

During the exclusion proceedings, the defence counsel also emphasised that the assessment must be based on the current situation and not on past circumstances.

According to a Swedish source, the university has since challenged the decision before the Administrative Court in Stockholm.

Information obtained by the Luxemburger Wort showed that Alexander H. attended an initial session with Respect.lu on 18 December 2025.

(This article was originally published in the Luxemburger Wort, translated using AI and edited by Kate Oglesby.)