STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Lawmakers in Sweden and Finland have opted for tougher anti-terrorism laws. Sweden's Justice Minister Thomas Bodstrom has signaled he wants to introduce a new bill to fight terrorism this fall, the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported Wednesday. The Social Democrat minister said the role of the military in case of a terror attack needs to be strengthened, and authorities should be able to preventively listen in on conversations.
A similar bill was introduced five years ago, but did not pass because of citizens' rights concerns, the newspaper said.
In Finland, new police laws have come into effect this month. Finnish authorities are now able to preventively bug phones to listen in on conversations of potential terrorists. Authorities have also used parts of the European Union's Schengen agreement to introduce tougher sea and air border controls before and during the 10th IAAF World Championships, which start in Helsinki next weekend. |
