Switzerland’s security: Situation Report 2013 of the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS)
Bern, 30.04.2013 - For several years, Switzerland’s strategic environment has been changing, as indeed during the period the report refers to. The Federal Intelligence Service FIS comes to this conclusion in its 2013 Situation Report. The consequences of dept crisis developments in Europe and the Arab Spring on the security of Switzerland are currently difficult to predict.
The most important findings of the 2013 Situation Report:
- Switzerland is currently in a quiet and stable situation. The focus is on none of the threats mentioned in the report.
- Switzerland continues to be no priority target for jihadist motivated attacks. Swiss nationals abroad are, however, more threatened than in the past by politically and terrorist motivated abductions.
- While several hundred jihadist motivated travellers from Europe could be established over the past ten years, less than 20 known journeys were made from Switzerland to jihad areas such as Somalia, Afghanistan/Pakistan and Syria. Of these a third have been confirmed as jihad motivated travel, the reason for the remaining visits is unclear. To date, we have no definite knowledge of persons returning to Switzerland from jihad areas.
- Proliferation is one of the great problem areas worldwide and this has repercussions for Switzerland too.
- Illegal intelligence continues to be practised in Switzerland, IT resources being increasingly used for that purpose.
- The violence potential of right and left-wing extremism continues to exist, but on the whole does not threaten Switzerland's inner security.
- The effects of the dept crisis in Europe and the Arab Spring on Switzerland's security are currently difficult to predict.
The classified situation radar instrument graphically displays from the perspective of the FIS and other agencies (Swiss National Intelligence Network) an overview of which threats to Switzerland's security are current or might intensify in the near or more distant future.
The 2013 Situation Report of the FIS portrays the current situation as of February 2013.
Address for enquiries
Felix Endrich
Head of Communication FIS
031 322 51 01
Publisher
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
http://www.vbs.admin.ch
Federal intelligence service
http://www.ndb.admin.ch
