Man arrested on Dyrøya after four-day police operation – cordons lifted
A man on Dyrøya in Mid-Troms barricaded himself in his home for four days after threatening and firing at police. On Friday, he was transported to Tromsø and the cordons were lifted.
Barricaded man arrested on Dyrøya after four days
NRK Norge reports that police on Friday concluded a four-day operation on Dyrøya in Mid-Troms, after a man was removed from his home and transported to Tromsø. The cordons in the area have been lifted and evacuated residents can return home.
– Police deployed against the house at a time when the risk was assessed as lower for all those involved, says operations leader Robin Åsheim Lindberg in Troms police district.
Police will not comment on the man's state of health.
Started as a welfare check – ended with gunshots
The operation began on Tuesday at 18:00 when police went to the home for a welfare check. The man threatened them with what was perceived as a weapon, and police withdrew. In the early hours of Wednesday, the man fired a shot at police from the home.
Neighbours in the area were evacuated in the night into Wednesday, and county road 7842 was closed. Approximately 50 people were behind the cordons, including residents along the road to Dyrøyhamn.
In the days that followed, police attempted to persuade the man to leave the home voluntarily. Troms police district received assistance from several other police districts and national emergency resources, and drones were used to keep the man under observation.
Sporadic contact with the man
On Friday morning, operations manager for police in Mid-Troms, John-Kåre Granheim, confirmed to NRK that police were still present outside the home and had some form of dialogue with the man.
– We have sporadic contact with the suspect, said Granheim.
He explained that police had to balance the safety of their own officers, the suspect, and residents in the area against one another.
– When we know the situation is as it is now, it is not so simple to just go in, said Granheim, who also expressed understanding for the fact that the situation was demanding for the local population.
– We hope we get a resolution fairly soon, he said.
Police had in recent days communicated with the man via a telephone that was delivered to him inside the home.
Local mayor: – Demanding not to know how long this will last
The operation is being felt keenly in the local community. Dyrøy mayor Marit Alvig Espenes told NRK on Thursday afternoon that the situation became increasingly challenging as the days went on.
– The longer it goes on, the more issues emerge. It is demanding not to know how long this will last, said Espenes.
Local businesses offered boat transport and food delivery to those affected by the cordons.
Friday police expanded the cordoned area
On Friday, police expanded the cordoned area, without stating the reason for the expansion. The Civil Protection Authority was also on site and provided logistics, cordons and practical support throughout the lengthy operation.
Operations leader Roy Nagel-Stangnes emphasised on Thursday that police could not leave the site before they had control of both the person and the weapons.
– We can see that there are still weapons in there, and we must take precautions based on the fact that police were met with gunfire the first night, said Nagel-Stangnes.
– We ask for patience until we are finished at the site, he added.
On Wednesday evening, the air ambulance was also present on Dyrøya. Police are working through the night into Saturday to restore the normal situation, but state that investigative work at the site remains.
Source: NRK Norge