Norwegian authorities launched a major search operation Sunday morning for a missing inmate from Bastøy Prison. Prison director Bjørn Robert Groven confirmed the incident.
The inmate was reported missing during Saturday evening's headcount. Prison staff immediately began following their missing person procedures.
"Both we and the police have assessed that he is not dangerous to anyone," Groven said in a statement. "That's why we didn't deploy major resources to search for him overnight."
Staff conducted rounds on the island overnight as part of standard protocol. The prison management met at 8 AM to discuss additional measures to locate the missing man.
"We are concerned when something like this happens," Groven added. "It doesn't happen often. We will do what we can to find the person and bring him to safety."
The prison management is considering whether to request assistance from other agencies. They haven't determined if this is an escape attempt or something else occurred.
Bastøy Prison in Horten is Norway's largest low-security facility with capacity for 115 inmates. Only male prisoners serve sentences at this institution located on an island in the Oslofjord.
Low-security prisons like Bastøy typically house non-violent offenders nearing the end of their sentences. The search operation continues as authorities work to determine the circumstances of the disappearance.