COMMENTARY: Two different situations in Nordic region
|
|
By Kalle Koponen
No serious terror attacks have occurred in the Nordic Countries. Here, as in other parts of Europe, there have been many precautionary arrests. However, there have been few trials, so it is not possible to say on the basis of the number of arrests how serious the cases have been.
The Nordic Countries can be divided clearly into two groups, when assessing the risk of terror attacks. Norway and Denmark are much more susceptible to such attacks for several reasons. Both have a close relationship with the United States, a country which is hated in the Muslim world. Both are taking part in aggressive military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq under US command. The leading figures of the world's jihadists have urged attacks against both countries. The cartoons of Muhammad which were published in Denmark a year ago are also not helpful. Finland and Sweden are more removed from the Mideast conflicts, which spur interest in terrorism.
According to Danish researcher Lars Andersen, al-Qaeda has been largely immobilised. However, this does not mean that terrorism is coming to an end, because it has been replaced by young men living in Europe, who are becoming increasingly radicalised among their own circles of friends, and who are learning ways to take action on their own without any connection with secret international networks. This is a genuinely frightening characteristic of modern terrorism, because it is hard to pinpoint these groups which act on their own.
In the terrorist groups that have been investigated, only few of those involved have had a powerful Islamist conviction. The others are there simply because their friends are. Desperation and marginalisation are not a sufficient explanation either. Many kinds of people have taken part in European terror attacks, from petty criminals to working family men.
Finland is both safe and at risk. The conflicts are far away, and immigrants do not have to deal with as hostile conditions as they meet in Denmark. Finland also lacks ideological inspiration offered by the radical Muslim clergy that exists in Denmark. However, the world's most important source of radicalism is the Internet, and it is open to everyone.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 1.10.2006
More on this subject:
 Terror fight sparks anguish in immigrant suburbs in Nordic region
KALLE KOPONEN / Helsingin Sanomat
kalle.koponen@hs.fi
|
|
