The threat from violent extremism has become prioritized in the Swedish political discourse. Right wing extremism is the most common form of extremism. However, Islamist extremism is seen as the most severe threat against the Swedish society. Previous research indicates that there is an institutionalized view that foreigners are seen as more dangerous than home-grown extremists. The overall aim of this study is to examine how identity can contribute to the understanding of violent extremism as a threat. This is done by using a qualitative text analysis guided by framing and securitization theory in order to analyse how Swedish press has framed two extremist crimes. The study concludes that media frames the two threats differently and that the right wing-extremist is perceived as an individual unlike the Islamist perpetrator who is portrayed as a representative for a greater threat.