The 2022 Iceland terror plot was an alleged plot to target Icelandic institutions and citizens of the state in September 2022.[1] On 21 September, the Icelandic police arrested two individuals and seized dozens of firearms, including semi-automatic pistols and 3D-printed weapons, along with large amount of ammunition during a search in nine different locations. The alleged plot, which would be the first of its kind in the history of Iceland, was believed to include attacks on members of the police, the Icelandic parliament, Alþingi.[2][3][4] The individuals further discussed murdering several high profile individuals, including Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, the Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources,[5] Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir, the chairman of the workers union Efling, and Gunnar Smári Egilsson, the chairman of the Icelandic Socialist Party.[6]
| Date | September 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location | Iceland |
| Type | Alleged terrorist plot |
| Target | Icelandic institutions and citizens |
| Suspects | Sindri Snær Birgisson, Ísidór Nathansson |
| Charges | Attempted terrorism, weapons violations |
Legal proceedings
editOn 9 December 2022, the two men where formally charged with attempted terrorism and weapons violations.[7]
The terrorism charges against the men, now publicly identified as Sindri Snær Birgisson and Ísidór Nathansson, were dismissed in March 2023.[8] New charges were filed in June 2023, and those charges were dismissed in October 2023, but were reinstated by the Court of Appeal.[9][10][11][12]
On 12 March 2024, both individuals where acquitted of the terrorism charge, but were convicted of weapons offenses; Sindri was sentenced to 2 years in prison, while Ísidór was sentenced to 18 months.[13]
Reactions
editIn an interview with Stöð 2, National Police Commissioner Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, stated that there was no reason to raise the risk assessment due to threat of terrorism in the country following the arrests as the danger had surpassed.[14]
The day after the arrests, the Icelandic neo-Nazi organization Norðurvígi made a statement where they denied any association with arrested individuals.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Grunur um tengsl við norræna hægri öfgahópa". Stundin (in Icelandic). 22 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Boffey, Daniel (22 September 2022). "Icelandic police arrest four people over alleged terror attack plans". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Magnússon, Andrés; Karlsson, Ari Páll; Sumarliðadóttir, Karlotta Líf (22 September 2022). "Töldu árás yfirvofandi". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Logadóttir, Fanndís Birna (22 September 2022). "Mögulegt að árásin hefði beinst gegn Alþingi eða lögreglu". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Kristjánsson, Alexander (17 October 2022). "Ræddu um að myrða Guðlaug Þór". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Varðhald stytt og ræddu morð á Gunnari og Sólveigu". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 10 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ Sigurðsson, Bjarki (9 December 2022). "Ákærðir fyrir tilraun til hryðjuverks: „Eina tilraunin sú að reyna að rústa lífi ungra manna"". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- ^ Daðason, Kolbeinn Tumi (10 March 2023). "Frávísun í hryðjuverkamálinu staðfest með minnsta mun". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Kjartansson, Kjartan (12 June 2023). "Hryðjuverkadraumórar raktir ítarlega í nýrri ákæru". Vísir.is. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Ásta Hlín Magnúsdóttir (2 October 2023). "Ákæru í hryðjuverkamáli aftur vísað frá - „Rannsókn málsins klúður"" (in Icelandic). RÚV. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Kæra frávísun í hryðjuverkamálinu til Landsréttar" (in Icelandic). RÚV. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ Freyr Gígja Gunnarsson (23 October 2023). "Hryðjuverkamálið fer fyrir dóm eftir úrskurð Landsrétta" (in Icelandic). RÚV. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ Jón Þór Stefánsson (12 March 2024). "Sindri fékk tveggja ára dóm og Ísidór átján mánuði". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Ólason, Samúel Karl (22 September 2022). "Ætla ekki að hækka hættumat vegna hryðjuverkaógnar". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Kristjánsdóttir, Ingunn Lára (22 September 2022). "Norðurvígi segist ekkert tengjast hryðjuverkaógn". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.