Kosovo – Kosovo police said on the 11 Aug 14 that they had arrested 40 ethnic Albanians suspected of fighting alongside Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria in the largest-ever operation against suspected radicals in the breakaway Balkan state. The operation by special police forces was carried out early on the 11 Aug at some 60 locations throughout Kosovo, including make-shift mosques suspected of serving as recruiting sites. Forty people “suspected of taking part in the war in Syria by supporting the terrorist organizations ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and (Al-Qaeda affiliate) Al-Nusra” were arrested, police said in a statement. “Explosive devices, weapons and ammunition were seized,” it added. The raid followed a months-long investigation and efforts by the authorities to root out suspected Islamist networks in Kosovo. Kosovo is a Muslim-majority country, although religion plays only a minor part in public life and tends to take a very moderate form. President Atifete Jahjaga welcomed the arrests, insisting that Kosovo “will not be a haven for extremism.” In Jun 13, three ethnic Albanians -- who make up more than 90 percent of Kosovo's 1.7 million population -- were arrested on suspicion of setting up a “terrorist organization” as media alleged they were recruited by ISIS, which has since renamed itself Islamic State, while fighting in Syria. The three were arrested upon their return to Kosovo where intelligence agents intercepted their communications and plans to carry out suicide attacks in public places.
Norway – Norway's intelligence service reported on the 24 Jul 14 that it had received information about an imminent 'concrete threat' against Norway from people with links to Islamic fighters in Syria. Benedicte Bjoernland, the head of Norwegian security service PST, said the agency had received 'reliable information' from a foreign partner about some kind of attack 'within days'. 'It was unspecific about what the target might be,' Bjoernland said, adding PST has no information about how or when such an attack would take place. The information involves people who have ties with foreign fighters in Syria, she added. According to PST's assessment last month, about 50 people have travelled to Syria from Norway as foreign fighters, half of whom have now returned to Norway. Bjoernland declined to give further details. This is the concern of many western governments where Muslims have left their home country to fight in Syria and Iraq.
Police in Norway have confirmed on the 27 Jul 14 they know who are behind the terror threats which have disrupted the country, but not where the group is hiding. The group is believed to be radical extremists who have recently left Syria, according to "VG". The newspaper was informed by independent sources that the investigation into the terror warning has revealed the identity of a group. It is however unclear whether the group intends to commit a terror attack. At a press conference on the 27 Jul 14, PST chief Benedicte Bjørnland said that the warning a terrorist group is on its way to Norway is “modified”.
Bjørnland said: “We have made clarifications. We are far from solidly claiming that the group is on its way to Norway." The PST chief also said at the conference, the terror threat against Norway is somewhat reduced. The police regard the threat is specific and time-limited. Bjørnland confirmed the situation is still serious and the national alert will be unchanged until further notice. Martin Bernsen, senior advisor at PST, said to “VG” on the question of whether PST knows the identity of those radical extremists supposedly having travelled as a group from Syria, he answered: “We cannot answer that. It's confidential information.”
Norway closed part of the airspace over its second city Bergen and tightened border checks on the 26 Jul 14, police said, two days after the country upped security following the terror alert. "Police have requested Avinor (Norway's state-owned airport operator) to ban flights over central Bergen," said Gustav Landro, chief of staff at theHordaland county police department. "The reason is the increased threat situation we have had since the 24 Jul," he added. Police said the airspace ban applied only to smaller private and recreational flights over the centre of the city in western Norway. Bergen's airport was not disrupted and was operating normally. On the 26 Jul authorities said they would check the ID of all travellers entering Norway until further notice. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the Schengen area, which includes 26 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border controls for people travelling within the group of nations. The threat is "non-specific" but "credible", according to PST chief Benedicte Bjørnland.
United Kingdom – Police had blamed dissident Irish republicans for a gun attack on one of their patrols in Londonderry, Northern Ireland it was reported on the 30 Jul 14. A gunman opened fire and hit the car twice. Small terrorist attacks continue in the province but as yet no spectacular has been committed.
Norway – Norway's intelligence service reported on the 24 Jul 14 that it had received information about an imminent 'concrete threat' against Norway from people with links to Islamic fighters in Syria. Benedicte Bjoernland, the head of Norwegian security service PST, said the agency had received 'reliable information' from a foreign partner about some kind of attack 'within days'. 'It was unspecific about what the target might be,' Bjoernland said, adding PST has no information about how or when such an attack would take place. The information involves people who have ties with foreign fighters in Syria, she added. According to PST's assessment last month, about 50 people have travelled to Syria from Norway as foreign fighters, half of whom have now returned to Norway. Bjoernland declined to give further details. This is the concern of many western governments where Muslims have left their home country to fight in Syria and Iraq.
Police in Norway have confirmed on the 27 Jul 14 they know who are behind the terror threats which have disrupted the country, but not where the group is hiding. The group is believed to be radical extremists who have recently left Syria, according to "VG". The newspaper was informed by independent sources that the investigation into the terror warning has revealed the identity of a group. It is however unclear whether the group intends to commit a terror attack. At a press conference on the 27 Jul 14, PST chief Benedicte Bjørnland said that the warning a terrorist group is on its way to Norway is “modified”.
Bjørnland said: “We have made clarifications. We are far from solidly claiming that the group is on its way to Norway." The PST chief also said at the conference, the terror threat against Norway is somewhat reduced. The police regard the threat is specific and time-limited. Bjørnland confirmed the situation is still serious and the national alert will be unchanged until further notice. Martin Bernsen, senior advisor at PST, said to “VG” on the question of whether PST knows the identity of those radical extremists supposedly having travelled as a group from Syria, he answered: “We cannot answer that. It's confidential information.”
Norway closed part of the airspace over its second city Bergen and tightened border checks on the 26 Jul 14, police said, two days after the country upped security following the terror alert. "Police have requested Avinor (Norway's state-owned airport operator) to ban flights over central Bergen," said Gustav Landro, chief of staff at theHordaland county police department. "The reason is the increased threat situation we have had since the 24 Jul," he added. Police said the airspace ban applied only to smaller private and recreational flights over the centre of the city in western Norway. Bergen's airport was not disrupted and was operating normally. On the 26 Jul authorities said they would check the ID of all travellers entering Norway until further notice. Norway is not an EU member but is part of the Schengen area, which includes 26 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border controls for people travelling within the group of nations. The threat is "non-specific" but "credible", according to PST chief Benedicte Bjørnland.
United Kingdom – Police had blamed dissident Irish republicans for a gun attack on one of their patrols in Londonderry, Northern Ireland it was reported on the 30 Jul 14. A gunman opened fire and hit the car twice. Small terrorist attacks continue in the province but as yet no spectacular has been committed.
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