4 men arrested in Iceland for planning terror attack suspected of having far-right links

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Four people arrested by police in Iceland on suspicion of planning a major terror attack are suspected to be linked to Nordic far-right groups, media reports said Friday.

It is believed that the four men in their 20s were planning attacks on public buildings, including parliament, according to national broadcaster RUV.

Police were the central target of the terror plot, it said.

"The origin of the police operations yesterday … was in the context of an investigation into the preparation of a terrorist attack," National Commissioner of Icelandic Police, Karl Steinar Valsson, said at a news conference. "It is safe to say that our society is safer than it was.”

He said an investigation is still in its early stages and further arrests could be made.

"We are just starting some work and are seizing a large number of phones and computers and other such things," said Valsson.

Potential links to Nordic far-right groups, as well as elsewhere in Europe are being investigated by police.

Police arrested the men
in the suburb of the nation’s capital of Reykjavik, in Kopavogur and Mosfellsbær.

About 50 officers from special forces took part in the police operation.

"With them, we think we've covered what we're investigating and don't think there's any danger in traveling," said Valsson.

Police found weapons in nine different locations where semi-automatic weapons, including 3D-printed guns and “thousands” of rounds of ammunition were seized.

"We took certain measures while we were getting the situation under control. Of course, we don't want to reveal what the exact response of the police is," said Valsson.

Two suspects have been released, while the other two remain in custody.

He said it is the first time this kind of terror operation was conducted in Iceland.

Iceland is considered one of the most peaceful places in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.