Terrorists transiting through Iceland

Owing to the situation both domestically and abroad, the possibility of a terrorist attack in Iceland cannot be ruled out. The terror threat level in Iceland is therefore considered to be moderate. These are among the findings of an assessment of the current terror threat in Iceland carried out by the Research Department of the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police. Their report also indicates that the Department is aware that Iceland has been used as a ‘transit country’ for individuals from North America on their way to and from the Middle East having taken part in fighting on behalf of Islamic State.

“Being a ‘transit country’ does not necessarily mean that there is a greater terror threat in Iceland, but the threat is there,” reads the report. It also indicates that there is reason to believe that this sort of ‘transit’ will continue since military action against Islamic State involving Western nations is expected to continue for some time.

“We therefore consider there to be a persistent risk of such ‘transit’ through Iceland. In the opinion of the Research Department, this alone warrants increased capabilities in Iceland for border surveillance and intelligence gathering on the movements of these individuals. It must be borne in mind that there are foreign targets in Iceland, such as embassies.”

Limited powers of investigation

The report notes that the Research Department is not aware of any terrorist attacks being prepared against Iceland. Owing to the Department’s limited powers of investigation, it lacks sufficient information to assess the potential threat and its analysis is less accurate than it otherwise could be. This in turn poses a greater threat to society.

“A lack of information can mean that the police are unable to react to and prevent atrocities, i.e. it is a shortcoming that can lead to a greater threat,” states the report.

The Research Department singles out Islamic State and Al-Qaeda as the majors threats to the Western world, including Iceland. It indicates that security agencies in the West unanimously consider that the real threat is individuals being convinced by the arguments of groups such as Islamic State, often online, and accepting to commit atrocities on their behalf, even if they do not actively take part in fighting in the Middle East.

“This analysis holds water, as events in France, Belgium and Denmark have shown,” the report states. “Given that a number of people from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland have gone to the Middle East to fight for Islamic State, it cannot in any way be ruled out that people in Iceland might be prepared to do the same.”