Finland: Islamic community moderate, some individuals monitored

According to Security Police Chief Ilkka Salmi, Finland is ready for the possibility that the country could be the target of future terrorist attacks. The national Security Police describes the Islamic community in Finland as moderate, but says that the movements of some individuals are monitored.


The evaluation of the Security Police is that Finland is a safe country. According to Chief Ilkka Salmi, a terrorist strike in Finland is, however, a possibility.


"At least that is what the Security Police is ready for. There have been indications that the area of focus in Europe has gradually crept northward, so of course here in Finland we are keeping our eyes open," says Salmi.


Officials say that the threat of terrorism in Europe comes from extremist Islamic elements that have the goal of causing at many human casualties as possible and to create havoc in the targeted country.


Last year, police in Britain and Germany prevented terrorist attacks planned by converts to radical Islam. According to the Security Police, the Islamic community in Finland is moderate, but the movements of some individuals are monitored.


"There have been no clear signs of the financing of terrorism found, but the flow of funds is scrutinized," Salmi assured journalists. "We have various indications of activities in different directions, but not quite so clear that it would be evidence that could be taken into court."


Finland's Security Police entered a new era on Thursday by holding the first press conference in its history. It presented its annual administration report and shed light on the country's security situation for the press.


However, the culture of secrecy still survives. A court has ruled that the Security Police's annual operational reports should be public. The Security Police has appealed that decision to a higher court.



Source: YLE (English)

See also: Finland: Tougher anti-terrorism legislation, Finland: New legislation against terror financing, Europe: Terror in EU overwhelmingly non-Islamic

No comments: