- "Credible" but "unspecific" intelligence of terror attack
- Threat linked to fighting in Syria
- Prime Minister Erna Solberg postpones holiday
- Increased security at Norway's two atomic reactors
- Increased security at borders and Norway's two nuclear reactors
- Oslo City Hall and the Royal Palace and closed to public
- Prime Minister informed on Wednesday evening
- Flights unaffected
- UK and US embassies in Oslo warn travellers to 'remain vigilant'
“The PST [Norway’s security police] recently received information that people with links to Islamic extremists in Syria may intend to carry out attacks against Norway,” PST chief Benedicte Bjørnland told a press conference in Oslo on Thursday. She added that the attack was planned to take place “within a few days from now.”
“The PST has warned several times that extremist Islamist groups in Syria intend to carry out terror attacks in Norway. We often receive such information, but often it turns out to be inaccurate. However, on this occasion our suspicions have been backed up,” she said.
“The resulting investigation we have carried out leads us to believe that this is credible, while unspecific. This is related to people who have participated in fighting in Syria,” she said.
“We have called in people from their holidays and want to work to confirm or disprove the information we have.”
Bjørnland added that further information would be limited out of respect for the security service's sources. She added that the PST did not know who was behind the threat, nor where or how any attack might be carried out.
The PST said it was releasing the information in the hope of preventing the attack. Police are raising their alert level, said acting police director Vidar Refvik:
“People will mostly notice our increased level of alert through increased presence at border crossings, among other things. The police will be armed,” he said.
PM cancels summer holiday plans
City Hall closed
The Royal Palace closed
The Royal Palace in Oslo has cancelled all tours of the building until further notice. The move was decided by the Head of Court on Thursday.
Tickets pre-paid for tours will be refunded at the ticket office (billettservice.no).
Norway Chess Olympics under threat
The Chess Olympiad to be held in Tromsø – the world's third biggest sports event and 181 nations scheduled to take part – said they have a "security plan" and are working with the Norwegian authorities and police, said organisers on their official Twitter account.
Jewish Museum in Oslo closed
The Jewish Museum of Oslo has been closed because of the terror threat against Norway on Friday. Rolf Kirschner, assistant manager of the museum said to NTB: "As a potential target, we have made this decision. It is sad. We have nice exhibitions going on, but we cannot risk the lifes of our staff and the visitors."
Norwegian authorities today announced a credible but non-specific terror threat to Norway. UK nationals should remain vigilant.
— British Embassy Oslo (@UKinNorway) July 24, 2014
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