Description

On February 16, PRIO hosted a seminar discussing terrorism, mental health, and security. 

Recent acts of terrorism in Norway - the 22 July attack, the 2019 Bærum mosque attack, the 2021 Kongberg killings and the 2022 Oslo Pride Parade attacks - illustrate a phenomenon observed in other countries:  that perpetrators and would-be perpetrators of terrorist attacks often suffer from mental illness.

Mental health issues may affect the motivation for an attack and how the attack was planned and executed, in addition to issues of criminal competence and sanity. In response, police and intelligence services increasingly involve health authorities and access health data to prevent and counter violent extremism.

Drawing on ongoing research in Norway and the United Kingdom, this seminar reflected on the political, ethical, and legal dimensions of such efforts, and what the shift in mental health thinking means for security research.

Speakers

• Charlotte Heath-Kelly, Professor in Counterterrorism and Public Policy, University of Warwick
  Charlotte was the keynote speaker addressing the topic of multiagency counterterrorism in Norway and the UK, focusing on intelligence agencies in the care and welfare space.
  
• Kristin Bergtora Sandvik, Research Professor, University of Oslo and Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
  Kristin reflected on the legal accountability concerning the 22 July, Kongsberg, and Pride terror attacks.
  
• Rita Augestad Knudsen, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
  Rita addressed the topic of mental health and terrorism, focusing on emerging research and new policy dilemmas.
  
• Kristoffer Lidén, Senior Researcher, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
  Kristoffer chaired the event. 

For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.prio.org/events/9019 

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