Oslo’s annual Norway Cup football tournament, one of the largest in the world for children and youth, was winding up a week of matches involving more than 30,000 young participants. Police, however, had to step in during some cases of violence on the field and on the streets of the Norwegian capital.
In one case, a teenaged gang not involved in Norway Cup themselves tried to rob three young participants in broad daylight on Karl Johans Gate, between the Parliament and Royal Palace. One boy was knocked to the ground and his friend’s glasses were smashed.
Police reported also at least three other cases of robbery or attempted robbery during the week, carried out by teenage boys who won’t face criminal charges because they’re under the age of 15. Younger boys have been threatened with knives and forced to turn over any valuables they have, or to electronically send money to the offenders’ accounts.
Newspaper Aftenposten editorialized on Saturday that the crime during Norway Cup indicates that Oslo has a gang problem that keeps growing. “This frightens both parents and children,” the paper wrote. “It’s completely unacceptable that it continues.”
NewsinEnglish.no staff
