Norway is temporarily introducing controls at its Schengen borders. According to the police, the background is a challenging threat situation and the decision by the domestic intelligence service PST to increase the terror alert level. The measure gives the police more options to secure the borders, it said in a statement. The domestic intelligence service justified the increase in the terror alert level with the escalation of the Middle East conflict.
Increased danger
Due to increased danger to Israeli and Jewish institutions in the country, the second highest terror alert level now applies. So far the risk has been assessed as moderate. The new regulation on border controls should initially apply until October 22nd. However, waiting times at the border crossings are not to be expected as not all travelers are checked, the police said in a statement. “It is important that we have control over who is on Norwegian territory,” Justice Minister Emilie Mehl told broadcaster NRK.
Norwegian security authorities are also concerned about criminal networks suspected of being responsible for shootings and explosions near the Israeli embassies in Stockholm, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Iran is suspected as the client. The domestic secret service is aware that people connected to the attack in Copenhagen were also active in Norway, the Norwegian police said in a statement.
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