The 200 Heckler & Koch MP5 machine guns which, as reported this morning, will be placed in every police car in Iceland, were a gift from the Norwegian police, eyjan.is reports.
Assistant to Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, revealed this on his Facebook page a short time ago.
Parliamentarians have voiced their shock at the issue in Alþingi today. They had not been made aware that there were plans for the Icelandic police to carry such weapons and had not been given the opportunity to debate the issue.
General police officers in Iceland have always been unarmed.
Reykjavík has long had a close relationship with the Norwegian capital. Over the last few decades, Oslo has presented a Christmas tree to Reykjavík each year. However, earlier this year, the Oslo City Council made the decision to halt the tradition, reasoning that it is expensive, complicated and environmentally unfriendly, causing criticism in Iceland.
DV was first to report on the guns this morning.
UPDATE: Chief Superintendent Jónas F. Bjartmarz told mbl.is that the police had in fact bought the guns but did not say from whom and with what budget.
