Norwegian border crossings were put under higher surveillance on Friday and will remain so for at least the next 10 days. The goal, claim state authorities, is to raise national security both before and after next week’s state funeral for King Harald V.
The late monarch’s funeral on Wednesday September 9 will bring royalty, presidents and other top international figures to Oslo. Security will be high, and both state police and border agents were tightening up border crossings early, to better control those arriving in the country.
The stricter security will also allow police to stop Norwegians as well for identification checks. Only a passport or national ID card will be accepted as legitimate forms of identification.
Police were out in full force at Norway’s busiest border crossing to and from Sweden on the E6 highway at Svinesund. Norwegians returning from shopping trips also had to be prepared to identify themselves upon return.
Even though borders are generally open among European countries that adhere to Schengen regulations, including Norway, Police Director Håkon Skulstad told reporters on Friday that “this is a method we can use within the Schengen rules to better control those crossing the border in a manner that departs from the normal.” It’s generally allowed to cross borders without any identity control, “but now we are using goal-oriented control regarding anyone viewed as a threat to the funeral and national security,” said Skulstad.
Security at Norwegian airports was also being raised, and state aviation agency Avinor warned of possible flight delays or cancellatons next week because of an expected increase in air traffic. Avinor reported that it expects “extraordinary activity” at Oslo’s main airport at Gardermoen (OSL), especially in the morning hours of Wednesday since the funeral will begin at 1pm.
Spain’s royal family was the latest on Friday to confirm their attendance at the funeral, with King Felipe, Queen Letizia and the king’s mother, Queen Sofia, all traveling to Oslo. The entire Swedish royal family is also coming, as are kings and queens from Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands plus Prince Albert of Monaco, and Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan.
The British royal family, which has close ties to Norway’s, has also signalled its attendance but it remained unclear who will travel to Oslo. Several presidents will also be arriving in Oslo next week, including those from Finland, Iceland, Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Albania.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
