Government: Islamic State targeting Hungary and migration, terrorism closely intertwined

Budapest, March 31 (MTI) – The Islamic State terrorist organisation has targeted Hungary, János Lázár, the government office chief, said on Thursday. The stronger the pressure from migration and Islam, the greater the danger of terrorism, he said.

The prime minister’s security advisor earlier today said that Islamic State had named Hungary as a possible target and that the government was taking the threat seriously.

The government has a heightened responsibility for guaranteeing the security of all Hungarians, Lázár told his regular press conference.

The cabinet takes the threat seriously and does not underestimate it, he said, adding that every possible effort is being made to guarantee the country’s security.

On Friday Hungary’s five parliamentary parties will discuss the government’s anti-terrorist plan of action, which would provide police with appropriate means for preventing and investigating acts of terrorism, he said, adding that the means that the government wants to put at the disposal of law enforcement was no different from those employed by other European countries. Lázár said no major developments had been undertaken by the country’s secret services since 2001, and it was now a necessity to make significant investments in equipment in order to bring their technical wherewithal up to European standards.

The government office chief said he was hopeful the opposition would support the action plan.

The stronger the pressure from migration and Islam, the greater the danger of terrorism, Lázár said, saying that information provided by the secret services supported this assertion.

Lázár identified as a priority task the strict monitoring and protection of sensitive border-crossing points.

He said that currently the issue of migrant quotas was in abeyance due to the terror threat, but when the EU-Turkey agreement comes into full force, Brussels will try to implement quotas, too.

Lázár noted that around 1,000 local councils had signed up to the government’s campaign to express rejection of the quota system. Referring to the Socialist-led city of Szeged, in the south of the country, he said there were several localities in talks with Brussels on accepting migrants.

Migration, terrorism closely intertwined

János Lázár identified as a priority task the strict monitoring and protection of sensitive border-crossing points.

He said that currently the issue of migrant quotas was in abeyance due to the terror threat, but when the EU-Turkey agreement comes into full force, Brussels will try to implement quotas, too.

Lázár noted that around 1,000 local councils had signed up to the government’s campaign to express rejection of the quota system. Referring to the Socialist-led city of Szeged, in the south of the country, he said there were several localities in talks with Brussels on accepting migrants.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters