For the first time, the home security forces are carrying out an armed mission on behalf of the police. They guard oil and gas facilities on the North Sea coast.
Armed home security forces have been guarding Norway’s oil and gas production facilities on the North Sea coast for a month already. It is extraordinary. For the first time, they perform an armed mission on behalf of the police.
– Home security forces have weapons and the same powers as the police. We assist them if the situation escalates, but people need to understand that the home security forces work on behalf of the police, head of personnel at the West Norwegian Police Gustav Landro said the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation for NRK (you switch to another service) at the beginning of October.
Due to the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia, Norway is the largest gas producer in Europe. At the same time, in the vicinity of oil and gas production facilities, it has been done significant amount (you switch to another service) sightings of drones, and several Russians have been caught flying drones in Norway.
Norway already raised its level of readiness at oil and gas facilities as a result of the supposed sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines at the end of September. At first, the police took care of the security, in the beginning of October the home security forces took over the responsibility.
– It says a lot about how serious the security situation in Europe is, the leader of Vestlandet’s home security forces Christopher Thomas Knutsen said For Swedish TV (you switch to another service) this week.
Home security forces guard, for example, the Mongstad oil refinery north of Bergen. The group includes carpenters, IT technicians, opticians and nurses.
– After all, this is completely different from my everyday job. I will take this seriously and do what is required, Lieutenant Paal Nävdal says to Swedish television. His profession is optician.
Soldiers of the Norwegian Home Security Forces must enlist when called. Many have signed up for guard duties at gas and oil facilities voluntarily.
– We do not give figures on how many have been called up, but the number is not very large compared to the fact that Norway has a total of 40,000 home security forces soldiers, communications manager Per Gunnar Grosberghaugen said for TV2 (you switch to another service) in October.
The task of the Home Security Forces was originally supposed to last only two to five weeks. However, the Norwegian government announced on Monday (you will switch to another service), that the task will continue for the time being. At the same time, it told about the lifting of the Norwegian Defense Forces’ state of readiness.
– Nothing has happened in the last few days that makes us do this right now. The reason is the escalation that happened over time, the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre said.