Off the wire
• Chinese FM: China willing to see U.S. play positive role in Afghan peace process  • African nations urged to maximize on China-Africa cooperation: economist  • Georgia reports drastic decrease in foreign direct investment  • Study warns of worse climate outlook if actions not taken  • UN Security Council urges inclusion of youth in decision-making for conflict prevention  • Testimony meeting held in Tokyo to mark 78th anniv. of Nanjing Massacre  • COP21 draft agreement has "ingredients for an ambitious outcome": WWF  • Russia attempts ethnic cleansing in Syria: Turkish PM  • News Analysis: Baghdad-Ankara tension reflects deep divisions in Mideast  • 1st LD Writethru: San Bernardino shooters radicalized at least two years ago: FBI director  
You are here: 　 Home

Experts fear terrorist threat if Finland joins anti-IS fight

Xinhua, December 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Finnish experts feared the terrorist threat to Finland will increase if Finland responds affirmatively to the United States' request to help fight the Islamic State (IS), Finnish daily Turun Sanomat reported Wednesday.

Finnish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S. had asked Finland to join the coalition against IS. On Wednesday, the country's defense minister Jussi Niinisto said Finland will clarify its position on Friday.

Captain Antti Paronen, researcher at the Finnish National Defense University, told Turun Sanomat that the terrorist threat to Finland will grow, if Finland replies to the U.S. request positively.

Paronen pointed out that the IS is aware of all countries which participate in fighting against it.

"Finland has been ignored for a relatively long time. During this year, on a couple of occasions, it shows that IS is aware of our existence," Paronen was quoted as saying.

He disclosed that last month IS released a propaganda video, which included a list of its enemies. Finland was among the around 60 named countries.

Paronen estimated that the extremist militant group is not particularly interested in launching strikes on Finland, which is a small and distant country. However, the risk of terrorist attack will accelerate, if Finland joins the operations against IS.

Teemu Sinkkonen, senior researcher from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, echoed Paronen's opinions saying that any positive response to the US request will necessarily increase the terrorist threat to Finland.

Earlier, France asked Finland for help in actions against IS, and Finland replied affirmatively.

If Finland amends its legislation, and is actively involved in military means against IS, the assessment on the terrorist threat to Finland should be updated, he said.

The current legislation does not allow Finland to send military assistance to foreign countries.

Jussi Niinisto said earlier that a new legislation which allows Finland to provide military assistance to other European Union member states will be submitted to the Parliament at the beginning of next year.

Sinkkonen said that the possibility of terrorist attacks on Finland exists and the threat might be individual acts, not well organized assaults by a terrorist group. Endit