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February 3, 2006
Norway Being Used As Terrorist Base
Topics: War on TerrorIslamic extremists are using Norway as a base for terrorist operations overseas, but the head of Norway's security police claims they're being watched.
"We believe we have control," Jørn Holme, who heads the equivalent of Norway's national security agency (Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste, PST), told newspaper Dagbladet on Friday. "But as with any other country's security police, we can't make any guarantees."Back in November 2005 it was reported that Norway was a staging post for terrorists:Holme said there are people in Norway "who support terror" in other countries. "They use Norway as a base," he said.
He stressed that the terror groups, or cells, are few, but dangerous.
Last week Holme pointed to second- and third-generation immigrants in Norway as representing the largest challenge to PST's battle against terrorism. He toned down the threat that asylum seekers earlier were believed to represent.
The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has other persons linked to the 2004 terrorist attack in Madrid and recent terrorism arrests in Italy under surveillance.A harbinger for terrorist acts here in America and elsewhere in Europe? The short answer is a strong affirmative.The PST believes that Norway is used by 'freelance' terrorists as a place to lie low and plan activities, newspaper VG reports.
By using false identities and convincing cover stories these persons can stay hidden in Norway for long periods, posing as asylum seekers, tourists, or by arranging unfounded family reunions.
The PST considers their major challenge to be the discovery and hindrance of efforts to make Norway a haven for financing or equipping terrorists.
But this isn't really "new" news, Norway has long been known to be a terrorist haven, so why hasn't something been done about it before now?
Posted by Richard at February 3, 2006 11:02 AM
Articles Related to War on Terror:
- Norway Being Used As Terrorist Base - Feb 03, 2006
