The National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police has said that it would like its powers to investigate expanded and strengthened in light of a growing terrorist threat, as stated in a report by the office’s analysis division, which was published yesterday. The police in Iceland do not have the same authority to investigate suspected cases of terrorism as in some other countries, ruv.is reports.
The terrorism threat in Iceland has been raised from low to medium in line with trends elsewhere and in part because of the ability of terrorist organizations to disseminate propaganda via the internet and social media.
According to Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, the terrorism threat level has not been higher since the 9/11 attacks.
The authorities in Iceland possess information on individuals who are deemed to be a danger to society both because of a desire and ability to commit acts of terror.
More than 72,000 firearms are registered to 27,249 individuals in Iceland. There are many unregistered weapons also in circulation, according to the police commissioner.
As reported, Minister for Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson expressed his opinion today that the police in Iceland must have the necessary powers to protect the country’s citizens but a bill for a national security strategy, expected to be submitted in the coming days, does not call for increased police powers.
National security has been in discussion in Iceland in recent days after it was reported on Monday that an asylum seeker in Iceland had declared his support for IS.
