Norway Security Agency To Liberal Sweden: Muslim Influx Will Bring Problems

The head of the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has traveled to Sweden and warned counterparts in the largely liberal, pro mass migration nation that Muslim immigrants are resistant to integration and can cause “problems” for the host nation.

“A strong increase in immigration, particularly from Muslim countries, can cause other long-term challenges. When a large number of asylum seekers come to a local community, it can have unfortunate consequences,” PST head Marie Benedicte Bjørnland, said at a security conference in the Swedish ski resort town of Sälen on Monday.

“One cannot take for granted that new population groups will automatically adapt the norms and rules of the Norwegian society,” she said.

In an interview with broadcaster TV2, Ms. Bjørnland added that large numbers of foreigners can lead to violent clashes and the growth of far-right extremist groups.

“If in the long term, you see a growth of parallel societies, radicalisation and extremist environments, then we will have challenges as a security agency,” the PST head said.

Tensions between Norway and Sweden have been high of late; the former being determined not to absorb any immigrants attracted by the latter’s open door policy, and the statement’s from on Monday will be interpreted as one of the clearest statements yet of Norway’s distain for it’s neighbour’s policies.

Norway has taken a comparatively hard stance on migration since the beginning of the European migration crisis this summer.

In December, they introduced 40 changes to the law designed to reduce the number of migrants entering Norway, including tightening the rules on family reunification and implementing a minimum period of five years before permanent residence is granted.

Sweden, meanwhile, adopted an open door policy, where by it has absorbed more migrants this year per capita than any other European nation.

The country has been completely overwhelmed and has been forced to house migrant in tents. In November, Sweden suspended the Schengen zone closed off it’s boarders in a dramatic change of direction.

In December, Denmark’s rail operator warned that new border checks on train passengers aimed at curbing the number of asylum seekers entering Sweden from Denmark will cost nearly 1 million Danish crowns (£99,370 pounds) a day.