SHARE
COPY LINK

PARLIAMENT

Parliament evacuated after short-circuit blast

Norway's parliament was briefly evacuated on Thursday after a minor explosion in an electrical room, but no one was hurt, the parliament said.

Parliament evacuated after short-circuit blast
Norway's parliament building in Oslo. Photo: MGSpiller/Flickr

Norway's parliament was briefly evacuated on Thursday after a minor explosion in an electrical room, but no one was hurt, the parliament said.

Police confirmed that a short circuit had occurred in an electrical system which caused a plume of smoke and a power outage at the building in central Oslo.

"The parliament building was evacuated because of an explosive short circuit in a technical room," parliament said on its Twitter account. "No injuries were reported."

Power was restored after a few minutes, and the building was reopened shortly afterwards, it said.

Security has been heightened in Norway since the twin attacks by right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik in July 2011 that left 77 people dead.

MP Per Sandberg told television news channel TV2 Nyhetskanalen that his colleagues spoke of hearing a "rumbling" and then "vibrations".

Several media outlets had earlier reported an explosion in a manhole just outside the parliament building, with one witness telling TV2 she saw a fireball that threw a manhole cover into the air.

Television footage showed police and firemen inspecting a sewage canal.

There was no sign of panic, although ambulances were sent to the area.

Authorities also cordoned off the scene to keep passersby at bay.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

PARLIAMENT

Danish PM Frederiksen awaits result of coronavirus test

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been tested for coronavirus and is currently in isolation, the Prime Minister's office confirmed in a statement on Wednesday morning.

Danish PM Frederiksen awaits result of coronavirus test
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Photo: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix

The PM attended a meeting alongside Justice Minister Nick Hækkerup at the end of last week. Hækkerup, who said on Tuesday he was experiencing symptoms and awaiting a test result, has now confirmed a positive test for Covid-19.

“The Prime Minister participated in a meeting with the justice minister on Friday October 30th 2020, where all guidelines for social distance etc. were followed,” the government statement read.

“The Prime Minister is currently showing no symptoms pf Covid-19 and will, as far as possible, continue to work via virtual meetings,” it added.

Hækkerup said in a Facebook post that he had a cough and fever but is in good spirits.

Frederiksen, along with several other leading government figures including foreign minister Jeppe Kofod, health minister Magnus Heunicke and finance minister Nicolai Wammen, have also met with Hækkerup and are now in isolation as they await the results of their Covid-19 tests.

“The virus has spread to both parliament and the government. I am in isolation and will be tested. Though I have no symptoms of the disease. Take care of each other,” Frederiksen wrote on Facebook.

A series of ministers, members of parliament and a party leader – Søren Pape Poulsen of the Conservatives – were yesterday confirmed to have tested positive for Covid-19. A number of other parliamentarians have isolated due to suspected contact with the virus and Frederiksen's questions session in parliament was postponed.

The most serious report regarding infected Danish politicians concerns Lars Christian Lilleholt of the Liberal (Venstre) party. Lilleholt, a former minister who is now the Liberal defence spokesperson, has been admitted to the University Hospital in Odense with pneumonia after testing positive for coronavirus and has been given the experimental treatment Remdesivir, he confirmed in a social media post.

READ ALSO: Is Denmark's parliament at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak?

An ex-minister suggested that procedures at the Christiansborg parliament be adapted to prevent the spread of infection.

“Perhaps – very carefully suggested – Parliament should rethink consultations and votes. Not by not having them. But the way they take place. Disease is every man's master,” Søren Pind wrote on Twitter.

The parliament has said it will restrict the number of people who can attend meetings.

SHOW COMMENTS