Norwegian police have revealed how undercover officers prevented a potential bombing in Sarpsborg after infiltrating digital platforms where children are recruited for violent crimes. The operation unfolded on a Friday afternoon in late September when plainclothes officers waited in the parking lot of IKEA Furuset in eastern Oslo.
Police had intelligence about a planned attack targeting a commercial building in Sarpsborg. This came just days after two hand grenades were thrown at a beauty salon in Oslo's Pilestredet district, an attack allegedly carried out by two 13-year-olds. One grenade detonated near the salon while the other failed to explode and was secured by police.
Digital investigators from Oslo Police District had been monitoring social media platforms where violent assignments are openly advertised. These platforms include Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat, where criminals recruit young people for quick cash payments. Police now believe the same Swedish criminal network connected to the Pilestredet attack was behind this new planned bombing.
A police inspector explained their strategy of digital infiltration. Undercover officers pose as individuals willing to commit serious crimes. When a violent assignment appears online, they quickly respond, hoping to accept the job before any children do. The inspector acknowledged the challenging nature of this work, noting that planning often moves to encrypted chat groups that police cannot access.
At the IKEA parking lot, officers observed a car arriving containing a 31-year-old man with no prior criminal record. Police believe this man acted as a middleman between the digital recruiters and the potential attackers. The plainclothes officer approached the vehicle and received two hand grenades directly from the suspect.
Following the handover, police tracked the man to central Oslo and arrested him. Investigators now connect this same individual to the earlier Pilestredet attack, alleging he supplied similar grenades to the teenage suspects. The man's defense attorney confirmed his client denies criminal guilt and has not been formally questioned about these specific allegations.
This case highlights a disturbing trend in Scandinavian criminal activity. Swedish police have previously used similar infiltration methods to prevent murders in Norway. The Foxtrot criminal network, known for such operations in Sweden, appears to be expanding its recruitment of young Norwegians.
Despite this successful intervention, violence continues in the region. One week after the grenade handover was prevented, shots were fired at a residence in a quiet Sarpsborg neighborhood. Police have charged four young boys in connection with that shooting incident.
More than twenty people now face charges related to violent assignments this autumn. Police indicate the motivation stems from conflicts between criminal groups in Oslo with international connections. The digital monitoring operation represents a significant shift in Norwegian law enforcement strategy as they adapt to evolving criminal tactics.
Norwegian authorities acknowledge they are playing catch-up with digital criminal recruitment methods. One inspector noted that while they may be somewhat behind in this digital policing work, they are making progress. The National Criminal Investigation Service now systematically identifies violent assignments on digital platforms and works closely with local police districts to stop them.
The fundamental challenge remains identifying and arresting the masterminds behind these operations. As one official stated, unless they can capture the organizers, these dangerous assignments will continue appearing online, putting both children and communities at risk.