Armed police deployed to suspected arson at Oslo apartment block
Armed police were deployed on Friday evening to a large apartment block in Torshovdalen in Oslo following smoke in two stairwells. The fire service suspects deliberate fire-setting using flammable liquid.
Smoke in two stairwells raised suspicion of deliberate fire-setting
Armed police and an ambulance were deployed on Friday evening to an apartment block in Torshovdalen in Oslo, according to tv2.no. Operations leader Anders Aas said police were present to assist the fire service in connection with smoke in a stairwell.
"The cause of the smoke is unknown, and no injuries have been reported," Aas stated in the police log at 22:17.
Shortly before midnight, incident commander Kristian Digranes provided further details to TV 2.
"What has happened in the apartment block behind us is that the fire service received a report of a fire incident in a stairwell. It is quite a large building," said Digranes.
When police arrived, the fire service informed them that there were fire incidents in two separate stairwells on either side of the block.
"This gave us very quickly an indication that it could be deliberate. Furthermore, there is both a smell and witnesses indicating that there could have been flammable liquid in both places," said Digranes.
According to Digranes, there were open flames at one point. By 23:00, the fire and smoke had been brought under control, and the fire service's task was completed. No persons were injured.
"What the police are now working on is examining each stairwell to find signs of arson. We are searching for persons who are here without lawful access," Digranes stated.
Source: Google News DK — Crime (da)