Finland Times

In a press conference on Tuesday Supo placed a review of national security, saying that the risks of isolated violent acts of terrorism have increased in particular. On the contrary, the threats of planned attacks are still low.

Supo raised the assessment of threat for the first time in the summer of 2014. The head of Supo, Antti Pelttari admitted that the level of threat has risen from last year’s assessment.

“We are not saying that citizens need to be worried on the streets or that there would be an acute threat of attack, but we have noted that threats by individual actors, small groups have risen in compared to the situation in the summer of 2014,”  Pelttari said.

There are several reasons behind the elevated level of threat assessment. For instance, a significant number of Finns have participated and participate in the conflicts abroad.

Furthermore, people have left the country to join fighting abroad.

According to Supo, 70 people have left Finland for Syria of which 15 have died and about 20 have returned.

Pelttari also revealed that groups that support terrorism and attempt to radicalise and recruit people have formed in the country.

Furthermore, the increased number of asylum seekers in the country has raised the level of the threat assessment.

Among the asylum seekers there are plenty of people who have links to active violent groups from the countries of their origin.

Due to the terrorism situation, the group monitored by Supo has grown to 300 persons. The group includes people who have long been asylum seekers.

Interior Minister Petteri Orpo, however, said the security situation in the country remains at a good level.

“No one should be actively afraid,” Orpo said.

He said resources have already been increased in order to monitor the flow of asylum seekers.