Norell has a background in Military and Civil Intelligence where he worked on Counter-Terrorism and International Terrorism. Dr Norell has a PhD in Political Science and Peace & Conflict Research from the University of Stockholm and has worked and/or studied at the Universities of Stockholm, Uppsala, Genève, Jerusalem (The Hebrew University) and Haifa.
His most recent books are; Return of the Caliphate (on the Islamic State and its religious and ideological roots) published in Sweden in November 2015. An English edition was published in November 2017; En Personlig Resa, (A Personal Journey) published in December 2018 and 1979 och arvet efter politisk islam (1979 and the legacy of political Islam) published in December 2020.
He has served with the UN in Somalia (UNOSOM II) and has lived, worked and travelled widely for 30 years in the Middle East (including North Africa) and the Af-Pak region.