Updated 27 Oct, 16:07
A man in his 40s died after a fire broke out in an apartment in a multi-family house in Haugesund overnight into Friday. Police said their investigation showed the fire started in the living room of one of the apartments, according to Aftenposten and NRK.
A man in his 30s was arrested and charged with grossly causing danger to the public. He was released on Friday evening, and police said the decision was made based on developments in the investigation.
"Based on the information we have at present, it appears most likely that the fire was caused by a technical cause or the use of an open flame, such as a cigarette or lit candles," police attorney Mohammad Ali Khan said. "The hypothesis that a criminal act caused the fire is considerably weakened."
The man remains formally charged. Khan said this is a formal status and must not be understood to mean that the suspicion against him has been strengthened. Defense lawyer Ben-Einar Grindhaug wrote in a text message to VG that the charge is remote from his client.
"He says he has nothing to do with the fire and that he has not been at the address for several days," Grindhaug wrote.
Police are still working to complete the investigation and are awaiting final assessments of the technical examinations.