• Norway edition

US embassy: 'Don't walk alone in Oslo at night'

Published: 18 Jan 2012 10:44 GMT+01:00 | Print version
Updated: 18 Jan 2012 12:55 GMT+01:00

The United States embassy sent an email to US citizens in Oslo on Tuesday urging them to take extra care when out and about in the Norwegian capital after a spate of violent crimes in recent months.

The embassy made reference to a knife attack on a tram at Solli Plass on January 5th, two stabbing incidents at Oslo Central Station on January 10th, as well as a number of assaults in the city’s parks, particularly Slottsparken (The Palace Park), national broadcaster NRK reports.

Americans are advised by the embassy to observe five basic safety procedures, ”even in a generally safe country like Norway.”

1.    If possible, do not walk alone at night. If you are out late, arrange to walk with others or consider another form of transportation.

2.    Remain in well-lighted areas with heavy traffic.

3.    Be aware of your surroundings at all times; see potential threats before they become actual threats.

4.    Trust your instincts. If something seems wrong, get yourself out of the area.

5.    Keep your cell phone with you and charged to call for help if necessary. The police emergency number is 112, which you can dial from any land line or cell phone.

Norwegian media have reported extensively in recent months on an unprecedented number of attacks, especially rapes, in the city’s street and parks.

NTB/The Local (news@thelocal.no)

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2012-01-18 13:45:16 by Aurora the Pink
Oh, they were finally able to translate what the Norwegian press has been saying for many months now?
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2012-01-18 18:57:26 by Chupapinga
Another one of the many benefits that our Middle Eastern/North African friends have given us. Thanks!
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2012-01-18 21:08:35 by strixy
Unfortunately I am afraid the next thing the Norwegian authorities might do is to advise women not go go out alone and to cover themselves from tip to toe not to enrage/provoke anyone :|
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2012-01-18 22:54:55 by Gustav Jung
Chupapinga - one of the many benefits of supporting the US in its fascist activities.
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2012-01-19 00:12:00 by Chupapinga
Gustav- Last I checked it wasn't the US committing 100% of the assault rapes in Oslo since 2006. Also, I don't see any Americans over-represented in violent crime and theft categories. Wake up.
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2012-01-19 15:56:28 by snape
Gustav Jung a good example of to many clowns and not enough circuses.
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2012-01-21 11:34:59 by Aurora the Pink
A laptop in the 80s? How interesting.
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2012-01-21 16:31:17 by Dave N
6. Keep well away from groups of anyone of Middle Eastern or North African origin. (This applies to every city in Europe).
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2012-02-04 00:16:02 by Peyman
Gustav Jung the problematic situation of islam is a reality. With or without the US invasion many muslims would have had hard time accepting the freedom of others to be different. A good indicator of the endogenaity of the problem of islam today is the religiously inspired killings in Pakistan where different sects of muslims see the massacre of each other religiously justifiable. When some of them do this with each other they may find it even easier to do the "justice" to non-muslims. On the other hand Middle East and North Africa are currently the scene of conflict between liberal and Islamist forces. Among the Middle Easterners you may find many militant atheists and liberals who far outweigh any Westerners in their opposition to the atrocities carried out by the muslim community and argue against religious subjugation much more eloquently than their equivalent European orators. By judging people according to their appearances and origin, Dave N and Chupapinga seem to have been blind to all this internal dynamism of the ME & NA.
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2012-02-04 14:24:30 by roaringchicken
@strixy lol No, no, no -- they only advise that they go out escorted, you know, by a male member of the family.
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2012-02-23 05:13:38 by bellflower
Gustav, logically, nothing you wrote negates what Dave N and Chupapinga said. The fact that they are willing to and do murder each other at alarming rates doesn't make it safer to include them, but rather even more foolish. Because there are some in the ME & NA who oppose the violence doesn't mean that it isn't wise to avoid groups of them, who may well be violent, because some of them might not be. When you see a group of them you cannot tell whether they are the violent breed or not, so to be wise one should stay away. Also, since there are many that are violent and all of them have plenty of countries, space and resources in the ME and NA and many other Muslim places why should they be allowed into Norway or other western nations? You are asking Norwegians to play Russian roulette with Norwegian lives and the lives of Norwegian children. If only one out of ten are violent than the odds are not good at all that violence will not be committed. If the percentage is too high it is smart to try to not let them in because many Norwegians will end up raped, physically hurt and/or killed, not to mention the loss of freedom and the constant feeling of not being safe.
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