The terrorist attack that stunned Sweden heading into the weekend has prompted the country to tighten border control. That means Norwegians also need to take their passports with them when crossing the border, even for just an Easter week daytrip for shopping.
“My general advice is that everyone traveiling to and from Sweden should have their passports with them,” Matthias Lindholm, spokesman for Sweden’s Polismyndigheten told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). Scandinavians who otherwise are accustomed to crossing borders freely within Sweden, Norway and Denmark needed to be prepared for identity checks.
Norwegians heading into the Easter holiday week, when shopping over the border is especially popular on Thursday because most Norwegian retailers including the state wine and liquor chain Vinmonopolet are closed, were warned to be prepared for border control. Armed guards were already in place at several border crossings on Saturday, including on the Swedish side of the Öresund bridge from Denmark.
“Since Sweden has increased its border patrol, a passport is the only legitimate identification,” Paul Horne, operations leader for the Øst Police District in Southeastern Norway, told NRK.
newsinenglish.no staff
