An 18-year-old resident of a youth welfare institution in Oslo’s Kampen neighbourhood was in custody on Sunday, after a woman working at the institution is believed to have been murdered during the weekend. Her death has set off new alarms over security at such institutions that house troubled children and young adults.
The 18-year-old male resident was found and arrested by police late Saturday night in the downtown area. He has no previous criminal record, and no formal questioning had begun as of Sunday afternoon, but police inspector Grete Lien Metlid told state broadcaster NRK that “we feel certain we’re facing a murder case.”
Police were summoned at around 1:15am Sunday by a neighbour of the privately run institution, which specializes in helping troubled youth make the transition to an independent adult life. A woman in her 30s who was working alone at the institution was found seriously injured and declared dead at the scene.
Police were reluctant to release details of her injuries, what led to them or any motive behind the attack. “It’s of course very serious that something like this can occur at the workplace of the victim,” Metlid added. “We must find out how this could happen. It’s a serious and sad case.”
It has also shocked the neighbourhood, where several residents said they weren’t even aware there was a juvenile institution amongst them: “I have youngsters of my own here,” one neighbour told NRK, adding that it “could have been good to know” they were living near one.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
