Stephanie
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- Jul 11, 2004
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Islamic extremists are using Norway as a base for terrorist operations overseas, but the head of Norway's security police claims they're being watched.
Jørn Holme, head of the police security agency PST, claims Norwegian authorities "have control" over terror cells believed to be operating in Norway.
"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."
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.
He told Dagbladet that he views the threat of a terrorist act in Norway as "moderate."
At the same time, however, he urged Norwegians not to become overly alarmed, and to recognize the difference between the vast majority of Muslims and Islamic extremists. He likened it to the difference between church-goers and members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Muslim leaders in Norway were also urging moderation among their followers, with one noting that the controversy stemming from publication of a cartoon offensive to Muslims had grown out of proportion.
He told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Friday that "unfortunately, it's been the extremists who are setting the agenda here," first by a Christian magazine publishing the cartoon in Norway and then by Islamic extremists reacting violently to it.
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1213691.ece
Jørn Holme, head of the police security agency PST, claims Norwegian authorities "have control" over terror cells believed to be operating in Norway.
"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."
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.
He told Dagbladet that he views the threat of a terrorist act in Norway as "moderate."
At the same time, however, he urged Norwegians not to become overly alarmed, and to recognize the difference between the vast majority of Muslims and Islamic extremists. He likened it to the difference between church-goers and members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Muslim leaders in Norway were also urging moderation among their followers, with one noting that the controversy stemming from publication of a cartoon offensive to Muslims had grown out of proportion.
He told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Friday that "unfortunately, it's been the extremists who are setting the agenda here," first by a Christian magazine publishing the cartoon in Norway and then by Islamic extremists reacting violently to it.
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1213691.ece
