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Security services state Norway energy industry faces Russia threats

Security services from 7 European countries on Monday briefed Norwegian energy executives and authorities, including from Equinor, Europe's largest gas provider, about what they view as Russian dangers to crucial facilities.

The closed-door conference gone to by national security services from Norway, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Iceland highlighted Norway's role as the key energy supplier to Europe.

We see an establishing story which resolves not just Germany or Norwegian colleagues however everybody, Sinan Selen, the vice president of Germany's Federal Office for the Security of the Constitution, told Reuters after the conference.

This is a threat which originates from some counterparts like Russia, including not only espionage operations however also the risk of sabotage in some fields, he added, declining to discuss particular cases. In April, two German-Russian nationals were arrested in Germany on suspicion of outlining sabotage attacks, consisting of on U.S. military facilities, in what authorities called a major effort to weaken military support for Ukraine.

The Russian Embassy in Germany has actually dismissed accusations that it was behind the strategies as absurd and ludicrous. The Norwegian intelligence firms have also highlighted what they call as the possible risk of Russian sabotage.

When we are speaking about sabotage today, we are talking about Russia, Beate Gangaas, the head of Norway's. counterintelligence company PST, which organised the meeting on. the sidelines of the ONS energy conference, informed Reuters.

Norwegian intelligence firms stated earlier this year that. Russia may find it prudent to carry out physical or digital. acts of sabotage against targets in Norway, with its petroleum. sector being the prime target.

After Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Norway, a. NATO member nation that shares a border with Russia in the. Arctic, has ended up being Europe's largest provider of gas,. which is delivered by means of a huge subsea pipeline system.

Russia remains in a lasting fight with the West, and. it's a regime that wants to take more danger, Vice Admiral. Nils Andreas Stensoenes, the head of Norwegian Intelligence. Service, told an open-door meeting earlier on Monday.

So, although we have not seen any concrete evidence on. plans to do anything in Norway, it's wise to be sensible and. increase the level of security, he added.

(source: Reuters)