Findings of large quantities of explosives: –

– Certainly, it is not common to have such large seizures. How it is historically with respect to other seizures, I don’t know, but also the bomb squad expresses that this is an unusually large seizure.

This is what investigation leader Helge Torsvik in the Agder police district tells Dagbladet.

On Tuesday of last week, four people were arrested for their control in Arendal, on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. A gun was found in the car. After a search in various directions, explosives were found in a house in Tromøya, on the outskirts of Arendal.

Since then, the investigation has led to the seizure of explosives at an address in Grimstad and, more recently, in Tvedestrand on Friday. More than 100 kilos were found in Tvedestrand.

– Total seizures exceed 140 kilos of explosives, says Torsvik.

Seven arrested

Explosive-related objects have also been seized at the addresses, according to the head of the investigation.

– Such as firing caps and other materials that may be necessary and practical to use for blasting.

A total of seven people have been arrested in the case. A woman in her 30s and six men in her 20s. The woman and two of the men have been released after questioning, while three men have been placed in preventive detention. The fourth is destined for jail on Monday.

– I can’t get away with what the individuals have said in interrogations, but so far no clear hostile intentions or concrete action plans have been revealed that affect anyone else in any way, says Torsvik, adding:

– At the same time, it is true that we take very seriously that such large quantities of explosives are lost and out of legal control. Both in terms of storage and possible further spread. Also, of course, considering the risk you expose your environment to with this kind of insecure and ignorant storage.

– A disaster

Non-legal storage

According to the police, it is in the nature of the case that the explosive was not obtained legally.

– It is clear that none of those from whom we have seized have had legal access to have it or obtain it, neither for their own use nor for storage.

– Whether it is a case of theft or embezzlement, the investigation will focus and clarify.

– Is there a relationship between the persons in the case?

– There is a reason why we have discovered explosives in various directions and we have arrested several people on the way here, so it will necessarily mean that you have some kind of contact or link. But I can’t get into this so early in the investigation.

It does not exclude further arrests.

Torsvik also does not rule out further arrests in the case.

– Until the case is closed, I cannot rule it out, but there have been no more arrests or searches over the weekend.

The four people who were arrested in connection with the discovery of weapons in Arendal are known to the police from before. Torsvik does not want to go into whether this also applies to the other people in the case.

– There are different degrees of knowledge. Some better than others, he says.

Mapping risk

Some of the explosives have already been destroyed.

– The bomb squad finished its last mission yesterday and traveled back to Oslo last night. With their experience, they have played an important role in risk mapping here. Both in terms of the risk associated with seizures of this magnitude, as well as the way it is stored.

Dynamite Discovery: – Unpleasant

The police will continue with the mapping of origin, scope and risk, as well as investigation work related to the people detained in the case.

– In addition, it will be about the risk associated with such large quantities of explosives. But it’s not urgent in the same way, explains Torsvik.

Last week, 100 kilos of explosives were also found at an address in Bamble, NTB writes. The Agder Police District informs Dagbladet that they do not see the finding in connection with the case in their district.