Two Young Men Arrested After Hand Grenade Attack in Norway
Norwegian police arrested two young men after a hand grenade explosion at a commercial building in Strømmen. No injuries were reported but the attack caused significant property damage. This incident follows similar grenade attacks in recent weeks, raising concerns about escalating violence.
Police have arrested two young men following an explosion at a commercial building in Strømmen, Norway. Officials confirmed a hand grenade was thrown into the premises and detonated.
Dag André Sylju, the police operation leader, stated investigators determined one hand grenade was thrown inside the building before exploding. The incident occurred overnight Monday to Tuesday.
A restaurant owner nearby described the area as typically quiet. She learned about the explosion through news reports.
Police initially observed at least one person fleeing the scene immediately after the blast. Around 3 AM, authorities reported the explosion damaged a food establishment and caused shrapnel damage to a neighboring building. No injuries were reported.
The damage pattern suggests a targeted attack using a hand grenade, according to police assessment.
Shortly after 3 AM, police arrested two young men near the crime scene. Tore Almenning, the duty legal counsel, described the arrests as relatively undramatic.
Both suspects face charges of serious threats and endangering public safety. They are both over 15 years old, which is Norway's age of criminal responsibility.
This incident follows another hand grenade attack in Oslo's Pilestredet just two weeks earlier. The following week, police said they likely prevented a planned grenade attack in Sarpsborg.
When asked about possible connections between these events, Almenning said it's too early to confirm but noted the hypothesis appears natural.
Justice Minister Astri-Aas Hansen said she receives regular updates about the police investigation. She expressed concern about public anxiety following repeated explosions in public spaces.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre acknowledged people's fear, stating grenade explosions don't belong anywhere in Norway. He praised police for making arrests and assured the public authorities are doing everything possible.
Politician Sylvi Listhaug voiced strong concern about developments resembling Sweden's situation. She proposed several justice policy reforms including building up police resources, establishing closed institutions for serious juvenile offenders, and increasing penalty levels.
Police responded to reports of a possible explosion around midnight. They treat the incident with utmost seriousness and conduct broad investigations.
Almenning confirmed an explosion occurred inside the building. Forensic technicians and bomb squad members will examine the scene throughout the night.
Police now seek contact with anyone who might have witnessed activity in the area around the time of the explosion.
This marks another serious security incident in Norway, raising questions about organized crime and youth involvement in violent activities. The repeated use of military-grade weapons in public spaces indicates a troubling escalation in criminal methods.