Norway raises terror threat level to 2nd highest

The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) raised the national terror threat level from moderate to high on Tuesday, the second-highest level in the country, reported Xinhua.

In response to the heightened threat, police across Norway will be armed.

The increased threat specifically concerns Jewish and Israeli interests within Norway. "The threat against Jewish and Israeli targets has intensified," said Eirik Veum, senior advisor at PST, in an interview with national broadcaster NRK. He attributed the increased concerns to the ongoing escalation of conflicts in the Middle East.

Despite the heightened alert, Veum excluded specific intelligence indicating imminent attacks. "PST currently has no information suggesting concrete plans to carry out acts of terrorism on Norwegian soil. However, we are continuously monitoring and assessing potential threats," he explained.

As part of the enhanced security measures, the Norwegian Police Directorate has authorized the arming of police personnel nationwide.

"This decision enables officers to respond more swiftly in the event of an attack, to prevent or mitigate damage, or to stop an ongoing incident," Police Director Benedicte Bjornland was quoted as saying.

Bjornland also highlighted emerging concerns over state actors potentially using criminal networks to carry out terrorist activities.