Security Police believe that dozens in Finland in contact with terrorists
|
|
The Finnish Security Police (SUPO) believe that there are, or have been, dozens of people in Finland who have, or have had contacts with people involved in international terrorism.
Lasse Anttila, the head of SUPO’s antiterrorism unit, says that some of the contacts can involve normal interaction with relatives. However, he also says that there are people among them who are known to support some radical and violent ideology.
SUPO says that a few individuals have been willing to travel from Finland to crisis areas to take part in armed activity.
Anttila adds that it would not be surprising if someone may have trained at a terrorist training camp, or actually taken part in fighting.
“Considering the experiences of other countries, we need to be realists in this matter”, Anttila says.
In Sweden, for instance, officials have said that they are following the activities of organisations such as al-Qaeda and the Somali militant organisation Al-Shabaab,
Anttila nevertheless feels that the threat posed by terrorism toward Finland is small. SUPO has not made note of matters that would have led to the launch of criminal investigations in Finland into terrorist crimes.
SUPO also says that nobody has been deported from Finland on suspicion of involvement in terrorism. However, a few times a year SUPO recommends against granting a residence permit to an applicant for reasons of national security.
More on this subject:
 SUPO actions in deportation of Finn from Sweden to be investigated
Previously in HS International Edition:
Sweden expels Finnish citizen on suspicion of terrorist connections (18.11.2009)
Helsingin Sanomat
|
|
