Man throws incendiary devices at royal palace in Oslo
A man in an Electric wheelchair threw Molotov cocktails at the Norwegian Royal Palace in Oslo. A wooden door on the backside of the palace caught fire. A member of the royal family was reportedly present in the palace at the time of the attack.
According to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, a man in an electric wheelchair is suspected of setting fire to the Royal Palace in Oslo. The report states that the unidentified attacker told a passerby that he had a bomb on him, causing the passerby to alert the police. The wheelchair user threw two Molotov cocktails against a door on the backside of the palace, resulting in a fire that was quickly extinguished, but caused "a lot of smoke," according to tourists who were there to watch the changing of the guard but ended up witnessing the incident instead.
Photos published by the newspaper "Verdens Gang" showed flames in front of a large palace door as well as police fighting the fire with fire extinguishers. The royal court informed NRK that the extent of the damage was still unclear.
The situation was quickly brought under control and the man was arrested, as Oslo police told NRK. "The man had several more bottles with liquid at the time of his arrest," said Operations Leader Anders Rønning to NRK. "These are now being examined by bomb experts."
The motives behind the attack are still unclear. The police were unable to say shortly after the arrest whether he acted alone. NRK reported that he was identified as a white Russian citizen and that the police were looking for him in the Netherlands.
A member of the Royal Family was in the Palace
The Royal Palace, where King Harald V. and Queen Sonja reside, is located in the center of the Norwegian capital Oslo. It is surrounded by a larger palace park. The royal couple usually leaves the palace in the summer when it is opened for visitors. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit live with their family in Skaugum, west of Oslo. The palace confirmed late Monday that a member of the royal family was present in the palace at the time of the attack, but did not name anyone.
The palace grounds are open to the public, especially in the summer, when the gardens on the west side of the palace are also open. There is the entrance door of the royal family, while government officials and other visitors usually enter through the center of the palace. The target of the attacker was a door on the opposite side of the building from the middle of the 18th century, in an area where the royal guards are not usually stationed.
The incident at the Royal Palace in Oslo raised concerns within the Norwegian monarchy, as a member of the royal family was present during the attack. Despite the incident taking place near a seldom-used entrance, the monarchy continues to maintain a strong presence in Oslo's entertainment scene, often attending local events and performances.
