A recent spate of high-profile criminal incidents, from a grenade explosion in downtown Oslo to serious charges against a member of the royal family's household, has brought the issue of crime in Norway into sharp focus. The nation, often noted for its low crime rates, is now grappling with a complex landscape of youth violence, organized gangs, and shocking individual acts that have prompted a significant government response.
In a startling recent event, a hand grenade detonated in central Oslo, shattering car windows near a university campus and the Israeli embassy. A 13-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the explosion. While no injuries were reported, armed police and firefighters cordoned off the area and conducted a controlled detonation of a second explosive device found at the scene. This incident is not isolated; another case saw teenagers with suspected links to the Swedish Foxtrot gang arrested after hand grenades were thrown into a shop in Strømmen, Akershus.
Adding to national concern are grave charges filed against Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Prosecutors have indicted Høiby on 32 criminal counts, including rape, sexual assault, and bodily harm involving multiple alleged victims. While Høiby has denied most of the allegations, the case, built on text messages and witness statements, is scheduled to go to trial in February 2026.
The country has also been shaken by a case of alleged politically motivated violence. On august 24, 2025, Tamima Nibras Juhar, a 34-year-old Norwegian–Ethiopian Muslim woman, was fatally stabbed at a child welfare center in Oslo. The confessed suspect, 18-year-old Djordje Wilms, reportedly cited Juhar's immigrant and Muslim background as his motive, leading authorities to charge him with murder with terrorist intent.
These high-profile cases unfold against a backdrop of troubling crime statistics. The Øst Police District reported a 2.4% increase in criminal cases in 2024, with a significant rise in domestic violence. Property crimes like theft and fraud accounted for 43% of all reports in the district. Even more alarming, the Vest police district reported a 40% increase in youth criminal activity, a trend that lends context to the involvement of minors in grenade-related incidents.
In response, the Norwegian government has announced decisive measures. An immediate allocation of nOK 300 million in 2024, followed by an additional nOK 600 million annually from 2025, will be provided to police to combat organized and gang-related crime. Furthermore, reforms set to take effect on september 1 aim to expedite judicial processes for young offenders to strengthen the justice system and better protect victims.
The criminal landscape is further diversified by other significant legal proceedings. Authorities are managing the trial of a former US embassy guard in Oslo accused of spying for Russia and have also extradited a man to Rwanda suspected of involvement in the 1994 genocide.
Together, these events paint a picture of a nation confronting a multifaceted crime problem. As Norwegian authorities work to address everything from youth delinquency to international espionage, the recent incidents have left an indelible mark on the public consciousness.