Extremists target local youth
The head of Norway's intelligence and security agency believes young, Norwegian muslims are being targeted by militant extremists to carry out terrorist attacks and holy war overseas. Jørn Holme, Norway's boss for spies and bodyguards, is convinced Muslim extremists are trying to recruit youth in Norway for terrorist operations overseas. PHOTO: JON-ARE BERG-JACOBSEN These young muslims in Norway said they were surprised by Holme's claims, and don't think any recruiting efforts would be successful. PHOTO: SVEIN ERIK FURULUND |
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Jørn Holme, chief of The Norwegian Police Security Service (Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste PST), confirmed for the first time on Monday that active recruiting efforts are being carried out by older, militant extremists in Norway.
Holme refused to go into detail, but he told newspaper Aftenposten that intelligence gathering indicates that the terror challenge in Norway has gone beyond extremists' efforts to gain support for terrorist activity abroad.
"We've had reports about older, manipulative Islamic extremists here in the country, who have tried to motivate youth to take part in jihad (holy war) attacks abroad," he told Aftenposten. He said PST is taking the reports seriously.
He wouldn't say how many efforts have been made, how they're carried out or how the extremists come in contact with Norwegian youth. Nor would he say whether PST knows of any successful recruiting efforts. But he confirmed that recruiters are in the country, and active.
That surprised several muslim youth leaders interviewed by Aftenposten. They claimed they weren't aware of any terrorist recruiting efforts, and doubted they would succeed in Norway.
Fears downplayed
"Jørn Holme must be talking about another world than the one I'm in," said Kim Abdul Karim at an Islamic association's locale in Oslo. "I've been active in muslim circles both in Oslo and other Norwegian cities, and I've never heard about this."
Suleman Ijaz said he was also surprised. "Muslims know well that terror isn't in accordance with the religion," he said.
Mariam Javed, leader of the Muslim Students' Association in Norway, said Norwegian youth are too well-informed to fall for recruiting efforts, and he thinks they'd report any to PST.
Resistance urged
Holme urged "strong resistance" to any such recruiting efforts within Norway's various ethnic circles. He drew parallels to PST's efforts to fight right-wing extremism by tracking neo-Nazi organizations and recruiting efforts, and enlisting the aid of local communities and families.
As head of the PST, Holme is the man charged with protecting democracy, government leaders, the royal family and the general population in Norway. While he's often referred to as the Norwegian equivalent of "M" in James Bond novels and movies, Holme remains relatively unknown and keeps a low profile.
He said the terror threat in Norway remains complex, but stressed that most terrorist links uncovered in Norway relate to activity outside the country, not within Norwegian borders.
Arild M Jonassen
Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund
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