“Bank robbery in Svalbard – the first ever”
“During the Friday were the only branch of the bank in Longyearbyen on Svalbard for a robbery. It is the first bankrånet ever on the island.”
“A 29-year-old man stormed into the office armed with firearms.”
“– It is unreal. I thought it was a joke, ” says Hilde Fålun Strøm to Svalbardsposten.”
“She was on her way to open her mailbox when she saw a note on the robbery.”
“When the robbery occurred were three bank employees in the office but no customers. They pressed on överfallslarmet and the robber was later apprehended. Before then, however, he came over 70 000 Norwegian kroner. He is now detained in Tromsø on the Norwegian mainland.”
“He is reported to be a Russian tourist who borrowed a rifle legally on the island. To borrow the weapon on Svalbard is required that you can demonstrate an impeccable criminal record. Rifles can be borrowed in order to protect themselves against polar bears.”
“There are more than 2 000 people in Longyearbyen, according to the Norwegian NRK, this is the first time ever that there is a bank robbery in the small community.”
” It is very strange and scary that someone is doing something like this in a place like Longyearbyen, on an island. It is simply a mystery, ” says öbon Karianne Tangen Dypedahl to NRK.”
