Norway raised its terrorism threat level from “moderate” to “high” on Tuesday as the result of an increased risk of attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets. The threat level is the second highest on a scale from 1 to 5.
The Norwegian Security Services PST said the “ongoing escalation of the conflict in the Middle East” is one of the reasons for taking the step. Also, several Jewish holidays in October could be seen as “symbolic targets for potential terrorist actions,” PST said in a press release.
Norwegian police officers will also be armed, starting immediately, which is a departure from the norm in the Scandinavian country.
“We are in an unresolved situation that is constantly evolving. As of today, we have no information about specific plans for terrorism in Norway, but we are continuously working to clarify the threats and uncertainties that, to be honest, we are facing,” said Deputy Chief of PST Inga Bejer Engh.
Siv Sørensen, counter-terrorism advisor with the PST, told state broadcaster NRK that the security service has seen “a strong radicalization of extreme Islamists” after Israel’s response to the October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks.
The PST also points to the arrest of two Swedish teens in Denmark, charged with acts of terrorism against the Israeli embassy, as a reason for raising the threat level. One of the teens reportedly has a connection to Norway—and to Iran.
“Given the incident at the Israeli embassy in Sweden and Denmark, it is natural for us to consider Iranian-linked actors as part of the threat landscape against Jewish and Israeli interests in Norway. What we have seen in Denmark and Sweden is something we must also remain vigilant about,” Sørensen told Norwegian news agency NTB.
Neighboring Sweden raised its threat level to “high”—or 4—in late August while Denmark remains on a level 3 on the 5-point scale.
