The Norwegian government is planning to make a substantial financial investment in combatting terror next year, with at least EUR 400 million additional funds for the police, the judiciary system, the army and emergency medical services.
This became apparent during the announcement of the budget plans for 2012 on Thursday. If it is up to the Norwegian government, the police will once again have a special investigation and intelligence service, anti-terror units will soon have new equipment, a reserve police helicopter will be purchased, the internal security service will gain almost 7 million euros, as well as 16 new search-and-rescue helicopters for the armed forces and almost EUR 218 million will go to the roll-out of a digital emergency communication network for emergency services across the country.
The budget proposal is a direct response to the attacks on 22 July 2011 in Oslo and on the island of Utøya. 77 people were killed. Some observers therefore refer to the government’s plans as a “terror budget”. | © 2011 Marcel Burger for ANP News Agency (original published in Dutch on 6 October 2011)