Norway on alert after al-Qaeda cell discovered

The tranquillity of scenic Norway was suddenly disrupted when police arrested three men suspected to be members of al-Qaeda allegedly planning to bomb targets in the US and UK. All three belonged to ethnic groups - a Muslim Uighur, a Kurdish-Iraqi and an Uzbek citizen. They were living in Norway legally. The authorities moved in quickly as an international media outlet planned to break the news, which could endanger the ongoing investigation.

This episode shows the resiliency of al-Qaeda, which is constantly searching for new collaborators, especially among those living on the fringe of societies, whether in Europe or the US, or now in Scandinavian countries. Their lives are full of angst and frustration from trying to survive in new countries, especially those with liberal immigration policies that are tolerant of newcomers. Contrary to the conventional belief that al-Qaeda has been marginalised over recent years, it appears that the opposite is true. The terrorist group is still very active, with members exploring new territory in search of training fields and others to join their cause. Human frailty can, after all, be abused for any purpose.

It appears that Norway became a target for terrorism because it contributed troops to the US-led coalition in Afghanistan in recent years. Not long ago, an al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, reiterated that Norway could be a potential target for attack. In other words, any country that has contributed to the international force inside Afghanistan could face a similar situation. It would be no surprise if further inquiries link al-Qaeda cells in various cities in Europe and Scandinavia. Other parts of the world are probably no longer safe either!

With the arrests, Norway has been also transformed. It can no longer view itself as a neutral country - a peacemaker - a role that the country used to be proud of. It has become a normal country that must cooperate with the West in the global campaign against terrorism. Otherwise, terrorism will come home. It is in a critical situation such as this that a country has to choose sides and commit to a common goal. It will take some time for the Norwegians to come to terms with the harsh reality of global politics. Other Scandinavian countries will be following developments in Norway closely, as this crisis could have repercussions for them also.

Within Southeast Asia, the second front in the war against terrorism, the authorities have to remain vigilant because terrorist activities in the region, especially in Indonesia, have not yet subsided. Better exchanges of intelligence and increased cooperation between countries are needed to tighten security.

To counter al-Qaeda's moves, concerted international efforts are required. Any missing link could allow terrorists to establish contacts and recruit newcomers, especially on unfamiliar turf such as the Scandinavian countries. Due to social changes and values, a lot more stress has been placed on ethnic groups living in one of the most prosperous regions. Muslims in these countries are divided into different groups, both mainstream and radical, bringing discord and causing polarisation. Al-Qaeda has been able to exploit shortcomings in these societies and use them to attract new collaborators.