Neighbors Woke to Explosion: Thought It Was a Bomb
A hand grenade explosion rocked a residential area in Lillestrøm, Norway, terrifying neighbors who initially thought a bomb had detonated. Police arrested two young men and are investigating possible connections to other recent explosions. The attack has sparked political debate about crime prevention and public safety.
Residents in Lillestrøm, Norway woke to a loud explosion Monday night. Many initially thought a bomb had detonated near their homes.
Fuhre had just gone to bed when she heard the powerful blast. "I thought it was a bomb, to be completely honest," she said.
Police confirmed someone threw a hand grenade into a closed restaurant on Strømmen. The attack appeared targeted rather than random. Officers arrested two young men aged 18 and 19. They face charges of endangering public safety and making serious threats.
No one suffered injuries in the explosion. The restaurant had already closed for the night.
Another neighbor described the sound. "I heard a sharp, strong bang. Very loud. I immediately thought it was a grenade or bomb," the 68-year-old said.
The couple looked from their fourth-floor balcony toward the restaurant. They had ordered takeaway from the same establishment just hours earlier.
"We think they serve good food, so I got a bit of a shock. I think they're nice people working there," Fuhre added.
Residents reported hearing people gathering in the streets afterward. Many struggled to sleep following the explosion.
Police technicians worked through Tuesday morning at the scene. Officers blocked the street outside, forcing children to take detours to nearby Sagdalen school.
The area contains several restaurants and takeaway establishments in low wooden buildings. Many people frequent these spots during evening hours.
Authorities are investigating possible connections to recent explosions in Oslo's Bislett neighborhood and in Sarpsborg.
Police operations leader Dag André Sylju confirmed the weapon used. "We have examined the scene and concluded that one hand grenade was thrown into the premises and detonated there," he told reporters.
One neighbor reported police presence outside the same restaurant on Sunday night after a window was broken. Investigators haven't determined if this relates to Tuesday's grenade attack.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre addressed public concerns. "Grenade explosions don't belong anywhere in Norway," he stated.
The PM praised police for making arrests and assured citizens authorities are doing everything possible to maintain safety.
Political parties responded quickly to the incident. The Progress Party's Sylvi Listhaug expressed strong concerns about crime trends resembling Sweden's situation.
"We will build up the police, establish closed institutions for serious criminal repeat offenders under the criminal age limit, sharpen penalty levels, introduce penalties that have preventive effects for youth," Listhaug proposed.
Conservative justice policy spokesperson Mahmoud Farahmand echoed the urgency. "We need measures that work quickly. We need stricter penalties, closed institution places for the youngest who commit serious crime."
Norway typically experiences very few grenade attacks, making this incident particularly alarming for residents. The use of military-grade weapons in civilian areas represents an escalation in criminal activity that has many questioning public safety measures.
Local authorities increased patrols in the Strømmen area following the attack. Police urged anyone with information to come forward.