The bomb squad on their way after letters with threats and powder

At 6.30 p.m., the first two, one adult and one child, were out of the Eyüp Sultan mosque in Hillevåg. An hour later, around half will be out.

– The helicopter is expected to arrive at 19.30, says task leader Torleif Paulsen to Aftenbladet.

And the helicopter with the bomb squad landed at SUS just as expected.

Meanwhile, the evacuation of the mosque was still ongoing. First out were an adult and a child who were guided through the lock and flushed outside the mosque.

– One person has been cleaned, which means that a cleaning procedure has been completed and taken to the hospital for a check-up. No injuries or symptoms of any kind have been reported, the police report at 18.49.

– Those remaining in the mosque will also go to SUS for a check-up, and several of these will have to change their clothes before they can leave. And we are still waiting for national resources, reports the police.

14 in the mosque

It was around 3.30pm that the emergency services moved out with large forces to Hillevåg following a report of the discovery of powder in the mosque, which is located close to Jula and Sparkjøp.

It was first reported that there were more than ten people in the mosque who were not allowed to leave. The number turned out to be 14.

Outside, relatives gradually arrive.

– I was scared when my mother called and said what had happened, says Sara Nilsen, who is standing outside waiting for her mother to come out.

– We were supposed to have dinner, but then mum didn’t come home as agreed. She had gone to the mosque to pray, but then she called and told them that they had received a letter with powder and were not allowed to go out, Sara Nilsen tells Aftenbladet.

For several hours, she and her son Yakob have been standing outside the mosque, waiting.

– I was very scared when I got the phone call, but mother said I didn’t have to be, says Nilsen, not completely reassured.

Opened a letter

– There is talk of a terrorist threat against our mosque. We are happy that the police are taking this seriously, said spokesman Ahmet Coksurer in the Eyüp Sultan mosque in Hillevåg to Aftenbladet at 5.09pm.

– A person with us opened a letter which contained several hat threats and some white powder. It happened about an hour ago, he says.

To VG, Coksurer says that it was the mosque’s imam who opened the package.

Bomb squad on road

– We are talking about a white powder that has been delivered to the address. The bomb squad is on its way from Oslo, says task leader Torleif Paulsen to Aftenbladet’s photographer in Hillevåg.

It will naturally take some time before the bomb experts are in place, and just before 17.00 Rogaland fire and rescue were in the process of making locks that would be used to get in and out of the building.

– Those remaining in the mosque will also go to SUS for a check-up, and several of these will have to change their clothes before they can leave. And we are still waiting for national resources, reports the police.

14 in the mosque

It was around 3.30pm that the emergency services moved out with large forces to Hillevåg following a report of the discovery of powder in the mosque, which is located close to Jula and Sparkjøp.

It was first reported that there were more than ten people in the mosque who were not allowed to leave. The number turned out to be 14.

Outside, relatives gradually arrive.

– I was scared when my mother called and said what had happened, says Sara Nilsen, who is standing outside waiting for her mother to come out.

– We were supposed to have dinner, but then mum didn’t come home as agreed. She had gone to the mosque to pray, but then she called and told them that they had received a letter with powder and were not allowed to go out, Sara Nilsen tells Aftenbladet.

For several hours, she and her son Yakob have been standing outside the mosque, waiting.

– I was very scared when I got the phone call, but mother said I didn’t have to be, says Nilsen, not completely reassured.

Opened a letter

– There is talk of a terrorist threat against our mosque. We are happy that the police are taking this seriously, said spokesman Ahmet Coksurer in the Eyüp Sultan mosque in Hillevåg to Aftenbladet at 5.09pm.

– A person with us opened a letter which contained several hat threats and some white powder. It happened about an hour ago, he says.

To VG, Coksurer says that it was the mosque’s imam who opened the package.

Bomb squad on road

– We are talking about a white powder that has been delivered to the address. The bomb squad is on its way from Oslo, says task leader Torleif Paulsen to Aftenbladet’s photographer in Hillevåg.

It will naturally take some time before the bomb experts are in place, and just before 17.00 Rogaland fire and rescue were in the process of making locks that would be used to get in and out of the building.

One person has been in contact with the package’s contents, but no injuries have yet been reported.

Chemical divers are on their way to carry out a safe examination of the package and its contents. The entire quarter is blocked off.

– We are informed and assist local police on an ongoing basis, says senior advisor Eirik Veum in PST to VG.

No danger to the public

The police report that they do not consider the incident to be a danger to the public. The incident is limited to a building mass.

There are therefore 14 people in the building. Everyone must be helped out for examination at Stavanger University Hospital.

They have to go through a decontamination tent, where they must be cleaned before being allowed out, reports Aftenbladet’s photographer.

According to the website of the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, 700 members are associated with the congregation. It should be an open place for peace, reflection, education and positive communication.

The case is updated.