Three arrested after following Sylvi Listhaug – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

Elden law firm confirms this to NRK.

The three were arrested earlier on Tuesday, but have now been released after questioning, according to the law firm.

They are charged with reckless conduct and for endangering the work of a Storting representative in the center of Oslo. None of the activists plead guilty.

– A coordinated action against three peace activists appears to be an unnecessary over-dramatization on PST’s part. All have cooperated and explained themselves to the police after the arrest, something they would have done without a dramatic arrest, says lawyer John Christian Elden, who defends one activist.

The three activists have defenders from Elden Advokatfirma, and are assisted by lawyers John Christian Elden, Anne-Marie Gulichsen and Astri Rønningen Stautland. Deputy attorneys Jonas Berge and Armin Khoshnewiszadeh assisted the activists during questioning today.

– Most threatening I have experienced

It was on 13 March this year that Sylvi Listhaug said she had experienced being followed by a group of Palestine demonstrators who had marked outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She must have been out on an errand when she walked past the protesters.

The FRP leader said that several of those who followed her made obscene words and filmed her facing the Storting.

– I register that PST today arrested three activists, and have full confidence in the work they are doing, says Listhaug to NRK on Tuesday.

The PST launched an investigation into the incident, saying it was a high priority.

A spokesperson for the group that calls itself “Free Palestine save Gaza” has previously denied to NRK that they threatened Listhaug.

PST: – Uninterrupted pressure and continuity

Police prosecutor Thomas Blom in PST confirms that they have arrested three activists:

– It is the combined and uninterrupted pressure and ongoing pressure that Listhaug was exposed to over the entire stretch from 7. June square by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, down Stortingsgaten and into the Storting’s office premises on Wessels plass, which, in the prosecutor’s view, means that there are reasonable grounds for suspicion violation of sections 115 and 266 of the Criminal Code.

Elden believes that the activists’ actions are protected by freedom of expression and do not meet the conditions for being punished for obstructing an elected official.

Blom states that the three were arrested as a result of the risk of tampering with evidence.

– At the prosecution’s request, a decision has been obtained from the Oslo district court to search two of the three arrested, says Blom.

Campaigned against Støre

Earlier in April, Palestine demonstrators also campaigned against Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap).

NRK does not know whether there are demonstrators from the same group that followed Listhaug.

PST quickly gained control of the activists in both incidents. None of the ministers were injured, and none of the activists were arrested.

– The threat picture has not changed, but we keep a close eye on our government officials we are set to protect, says senior advisor Martin Bernsen in PST to NRK.

Martin Strand, head of the joint operational service in the Oslo police district, said then that the police will have a more active and clear approach towards this type of protestor in the future.

– We are focusing on the more aggressive behavior we have seen from protesters recently. This challenges and can be difficult to see in the right context with freedom of expression, Strand told NRK.