Guns to be returned to Norway
The 250 MP5 submachine guns that the Icelandic Coast Guard got from the Norwegian military at the beginning of the year will be returned to Norway. This was the result of a meeting yesterday between the two parties according to a press release from the ICG. Most of the weapons were supposed to go to the Icelandic police or 150 guns.
When it was revealed in the Icelandic media this autumn that the weapons had been acquired from Norway it resulted in extensive press coverage and public debate. The ICG claimed the weapons had been offered as a gift from the Norwegians in the same way other weapons had been previously acquired from Norway and other friendly countries. The Norwegian authorities, however, insisted that the guns had been sold to Iceland.
The ICG says in its press release that the intention was never to buy the weapons and therefore they will be returned to Norway after consulting Norwegian authorities.
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