Man arrested with hand grenade following lengthy police operation in Lågendalen
A man suspected of car theft was arrested in Lågendalen north of Larvik following a protracted situation involving a hand grenade and the National Support Resources.
Arrest in Lågendalen following hand grenade threat situation
According to aftenposten.no, a man was arrested in Lågendalen, north of Larvik, following a lengthy police operation that escalated from a routine arrest assignment to a serious threat situation.
Police gained control of the suspect at 14.50. The operation began as an arrest related to an ongoing investigation into car theft.
"The suspect was in possession of what was perceived as a hand grenade. Negotiations were initiated with the suspect and police received assistance from the National Support Resources," wrote operations commander Ståle Olstad Fuglaas in a statement to the media just after 16.00.
Fuglaas further stated that during negotiations the suspect surrendered the hand grenade, which was then secured by police's bomb disposal unit on site.
Police alerted the press to the operation in Svarstad from around 10.00, but gave no details about the background to the arrest at that time. Shortly afterwards, the operations commander in south-east reported a deadlock situation and that national support resources were on their way with a helicopter.
At 12.25, Fuglaas stated that police had rendered the suspect's vehicle harmless. At 13.35, negotiations were still ongoing and the suspect was isolated. Just over an hour later he was arrested.
"Police were at an address in Lågendalen to arrest a person suspected of theft. In connection with this a threat situation arose where police chose to withdraw somewhat," said police incident commander Jon Terje Staheli to the press following the arrest.
A source who contacted Østlands-Posten described a massive police presence at the scene: "There are seven police cars, two ambulances and a helicopter here now," she said just before 12.00.
County Road 40 Lågendalsveien remained sealed off following the arrest whilst police controlled the area and the house.
"We have to control the area and the house, so that we are sure there is nothing else that could be a danger to police or others on scene," said incident commander Staheli.
Source: Google News NO — Oslo