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The PST considers that the threat of terrorism by extreme Islamists in Norway has intensified since the last assessment. The threat level remains moderate.
On Thursday, three people were killed in and near a church in Nice, France, in a knife attack linked to Islamist terrorism. On Friday, the PST heightens the threat level of extreme Islamism in Norway. Photo: Daniel Cole / AP / NTB
– We still consider it possible for someone to try to carry out terrorist acts in Norway, motivated by religious or Islamist reasons, writes the Police Security Service in a press release on Friday.
– It will happen shortly before the assessment of the expected threat changes to probable, they add.
Revenge for rapes
The reason is that the PST believes that extremist Islamists may attempt to carry out terrorist attacks in response to what they perceive as a violation of Islam. PST writes that the perception of violations is an important reason for radicalization.
– Actors critical of Islam in Norway are likely to continue to commit acts that some Muslims will find offensive, they emphasize.
– Various actors on social media also give false news about alleged acts of violation of Islam in Norway. If recipients find it difficult to distinguish between fake and real news, this can help reinforce the image that Norway is a country where Islam is violated, they add.
Furthermore, extremist organizations such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have recently called for terrorism.
– In general, the above development trends change the current threat landscape, concludes PST.
Monitoring of the Police Directorate
The Norwegian Police Directorate is now in contact with both the PST and the police districts to assess the importance of the enhanced threat assessment.
Director of Emergency Management Tone Vangen of the Norwegian Police Directorate says in a press release that the management notes that there are no specific threats in Norway and that there is no indication that anything undesirable is happening.
– But incidents like the ones we’ve seen in recent days are a reminder that we must always bear in mind that unwanted incidents can occur, he says.
Justice Minister Monica Mæland (H) also highlights that the police are in charge of following up with specific measures.
– Together we will protect our common values and human rights, still writes in an email to NTB.
– Everyone in Norway should be able to feel safe, even if we are in a turbulent time, he adds.
More right-wing extremism
The PST believes that recent developments may also lead to further radicalization and the recruitment of far-right circles.
– The background of the evaluation is that the struggles of the extreme right will continue to have a strong appeal. This especially applies to opposition to the Islam religion, Muslims, as well as other non-Western immigration, they emphasize.
They believe that the increased isolation as a result of the corona pandemic may have led people to spend more time online, which is linked to radicalization.
If Islamist terrorist attacks are carried out, this can also motivate attacks by right-wing extremists.
The PST considers Muslim gathering places to be the most likely target of far-right terrorism.
Terror i Frankrike
The improvement of the terrorist threat assessment takes place one day after the terrorist attack in Nice in France. Three people lost their lives in the attack and one of them had his head cut off. The perpetrator, a 21-year-old Tunisian, is said to have shouted “Allahu akbar” (god is the greatest) throughout the attack.
The attack came just weeks after history teacher Samuel Paty had his throat slit after showing Mohammed cartoons in the classroom. French President Emmanuel Macron has defended the cartoons, citing freedom of expression.
