Masked men attempt kidnapping near Oslo shopping center
Masked men attempted to kidnap a teenager outside a major Oslo shopping center. Witnesses described professional-looking attackers who used a car to knock the victim down before chasing him. The incident follows a grenade attack at the same location hours earlier.
Masked attackers tried to abduct a teenager near Strømmen Storsenter shopping mall on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred just outside one of the largest shopping centers in the Oslo metropolitan area.
Witnesses saw a gray BMW drive onto the sidewalk near the mall entrance. Multiple masked individuals then chased the victim, who is under 18 years old.
One witness couple described the scene. They said the car appeared to try to hit the teenager first. When that failed, the suspects slammed a car door into him, knocking him to the ground.
Two masked men then attempted to grab the teenager. The victim managed to escape and ran away. One suspect gave chase while the driver followed briefly before turning back.
Both attackers wore black clothing, gloves, and hoods. Witnesses described them as looking professional and prepared.
Another witness on a nearby bus heard screaming. He saw a young boy running past the bus with a masked man chasing him. The suspect carried an object in his right hand that witnesses feared might be a weapon.
The masked man abandoned the chase when he noticed people watching. He returned to the BMW, which police confirmed had false license plates.
Authorities have not found the suspects or the vehicle. The motive remains unknown.
This incident comes just hours after a hand grenade attack on a sushi restaurant at the same location. Police have not ruled out a connection between the two events.
Operations leader Samuelsen stated it is too early to determine any connection. The investigation continues broadly across all leads.
Another police official told media they currently know of no links between the cases. Further investigation will determine if connections exist.
The targeted nature of both attacks in the same area raises questions about organized criminal activity. The professional appearance of the kidnappers suggests this was not a random act.