A window was broken and two people were seen running away from the Ruinen pub in the Old Town on Sunday night. Shortly afterwards, it started to burn in the empty bar room. 12 people were evacuated from the apartment building.
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The emergency services were notified of the fire at 2.05 and the Oslo fire and rescue service moved out with seven cars. Then there were open flames inside the closed bar room.
Witnesses have stated that a person broke a window on the spot. Shortly afterwards, it caught fire. Two people were also seen running from the scene, says operations manager Vidar Pedersen in the Oslo police district to Aftenposten.
The pub, which is located between Oslo barn and Oslo diocese in the Old Town, was darkened and closed. But on the floors above there were 12 people who all got out of the apartment building unharmed.
–Think the fire was started
After half an hour, the fire brigade gained control of the fire. Just before 3 o’clock, the fire brigade announced that the fire had been extinguished.
– The fire was extinguished relatively quickly. But because this is an 1890s apartment building, it could quickly become serious. Had it been allowed to last a little longer, the fire would have settled in the construction. We take this very seriously, says Pedersen.
Last night, police patrols conducted a search with a dog in the area. .
– We have a strong suspicion that the fire was started, says operations manager Vidar Pedersen.
– Has anyone entered the room and started the fire or has something burning thrown into the window?
– We need some time before we can say something more exact. Witnesses state that a window has been broken. We are working with track security and a forensic crime scene investigation will be carried out during Sunday, Pedersen states.
–Signalement: Large bubble jackets and hoodies
At 8 o’clock on Sunday morning, operations manager Tore Solberg in the Oslo police district states that it is “very important” to get hold of those who, in all probability, have started the fire.
– There were two tall, grown men with big bubble jackets or hoodies. They smashed the window and raised something. Shortly after, it started to burn, says Solberg.
– The police take the case very seriously. This is a so-called 1890 apartment building, which has apartments on the floors above the nightclub. When it burns there in the middle of the night, and people are asleep, the potential for damage is very large and serious, says Solberg.
The 12 evacuated residents were able to move back home after an hour and a half last night. On Sunday morning, the police did not have an overview of the damage after the fire and the extinguishing work. But no apartments should have been burnt, the police say.
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