Far-right politician Rasmus Paludan burns a copy of the Muslim holy book, the Koran, on January 21 this year while holding a public demonstration near the Turkish embassy. Subsequently, both Norwegian and Swedish security services have warned that Koran burning increases the risk of terrorism. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT / NTB
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13. feb. 2023 11:19 – Updated 13 Feb. 2023 11:19
In this year’s threat assessment, PST writes that extreme Islamists who feel offended by someone burning the Koran could trigger terrorist planning against Norway this year.
In PST’s national threat assessment for 2023, it is considered possible that extreme Islamists will attempt to carry out terrorist acts in Norway. Following incidents where the Koran has been burned, Muslims across Europe have demonstrated recently.
The fact that PST uses the word “possible” means that it is as likely as unlikely that something will occur as announced.
Denied Koran burning
Last week at the latest, the Oslo police refused an application from Stop the Islamization of Norway (Sian), which planned to burn a Koran in front of the Turkish embassy in Oslo. The justification given was that it would represent a safety hazard, not that there was any ban on burning the Koran in Norway.
PST writes that they see that many people find burning or desecration of the Koran offensive.
– In Norway, we expect that such events will also occur in 2023. Debates and events in Norway that are perceived to inhibit religious practice will also reinforce the perception that the West is at war with Islam. When such events take place in Norway, the likelihood of radicalization and ultimately terrorist planning against Norway increases, writes PST.
Current goals
In January, the Danish-Swedish right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan burned a Koran in front of Turkey’s embassy in Sweden, which caused tempers to boil and led to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stating that Sweden could not count on any support for its NATO application. In retrospect, Swedish police have refused further Koran burnings in front of the Turkish embassy in the country.
In the threat assessment, PST estimates that a possible act of terrorism this year will be carried out by one person, who will most likely have contact with other extremists beforehand.
– However, the most relevant targets for extreme Islamist terror will still be civilian crowds, institutions or people who are perceived to insult the religion of Islam, as well as uniformed police and defense personnel in public spaces, writes PST.
