Finland disputes US terror alert

HELSINKI – A top Finnish police official yesterday rejected a warning from US authorities over the weekend that a terrorist attack could be imminent in the Nordic country or in other nations in the region, and said the alert was probably based on a rumour.

“There are lots of rumours milling around all the time. So far we think this is one of those million rumours.Lately we have heard many similar rumours, but none of those have proven to be true yet,” Paavo Selin, head of the security unit at the Finnish Security Police, told AFP.”We have not received any concrete information referring to this in the Nordic region.Just some general rumours that we are checking,” he added.The United States on Sunday warned US citizens living in or passing through the Nordic and Baltic states of possible imminent terrorist attacks in crowded public places there.The State Department, in notices issued by embassies in Finland and Latvia, urged Americans to be particularly vigilant in shopping centres and in mass transportation hubs in the Nordic and Baltic nations.”With the closeness to the presidential election and the bin Laden message, it is natural that they want people to be aware of the situation,” Selin said.The Finnish Security Police insisted however that there was nothing to indicate an imminent terrorist act either in Finland or in neighbouring countries.- Nampa-AFPSo far we think this is one of those million rumours.Lately we have heard many similar rumours, but none of those have proven to be true yet,” Paavo Selin, head of the security unit at the Finnish Security Police, told AFP.”We have not received any concrete information referring to this in the Nordic region.Just some general rumours that we are checking,” he added.The United States on Sunday warned US citizens living in or passing through the Nordic and Baltic states of possible imminent terrorist attacks in crowded public places there.The State Department, in notices issued by embassies in Finland and Latvia, urged Americans to be particularly vigilant in shopping centres and in mass transportation hubs in the Nordic and Baltic nations.”With the closeness to the presidential election and the bin Laden message, it is natural that they want people to be aware of the situation,” Selin said.The Finnish Security Police insisted however that there was nothing to indicate an imminent terrorist act either in Finland or in neighbouring countries.- Nampa-AFP