Government of Norway

11/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/11/2024 06:27

Minister Emilie Mehl extends temporary arming of police and internal border controls

Norway's Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ms Emilie Mehl, has today decided to extend temporary arming of the police for three months and to extend internal border controls until 1 December 2024. The police have been armed since 8 October 2024, when the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) raised the terror threat level from moderate (level 3) to high (level 4), mainly because the threat to Jewish and Israeli targets had increased. Two days later, internal border controls were introduced.

"The threat of terrorism remains high, and there is a possible link between foreign states and the recruitment of criminals for terrorism in Europe. The police will therefore continue to be armed, giving them greater opportunity to control our borders," says Ms Mehl (Centre Party).

The Norwegian police are generally unarmed, and the National Police Directorate must continuously assess whether the order to arm police can be withdrawn. "Based on a risk assessment related to the terror threat level, the National Police Directorate believes that it is necessary to arm police to enable faster action to stop or limit a possible terrorist attack," says Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Mehl.

Internal border controls, i.e., control of Norway's borders with the Schengen Area, give the police greater opportunity to obtain information about travellers and to carry out checks at the borders.

"I extended the border controls on 22 October 2024 and am now extending them for a further 20 days. Increased border control strengthens protection against possible acts of terror," says Ms Mehl.

The police will facilitate smooth passage of border traffic as much as possible. The checks are temporary and will be ended if the threat level is lowered.