01:53Norway: Huge blaze engulfs refugee accommodation centre in Hemsedal
A reception centre for refugees burned down in a massive blaze in the Norwegian municipality of Hemsedal, early on Wednesday morning. The fire comes as arson attacks continue to dog migrant accommodation across Scandinavia.
As emergency services arrived on the scene to deal with the massive blaze, 162 residents were safely evacuated from the building, with no reports of injury. Operations Manager of the North Buskerud police Jarle Hopperstad stated that those located in the building would be accommodated at other locations in Hemsedal.
Norway’s neighbour Sweden has experienced a spike in anti-refugee sentiment following the start of the current refugee crisis, with a suspected 20 arson attacks against asylum centres since the beginning of 2015. A reported record 2,452 people applied for asylum in Norway last week, with a total of 24,400 arriving in 2015 alone.
01:53A reception centre for refugees burned down in a massive blaze in the Norwegian municipality of Hemsedal, early on Wednesday morning. The fire comes as arson attacks continue to dog migrant accommodation across Scandinavia.
As emergency services arrived on the scene to deal with the massive blaze, 162 residents were safely evacuated from the building, with no reports of injury. Operations Manager of the North Buskerud police Jarle Hopperstad stated that those located in the building would be accommodated at other locations in Hemsedal.
Norway’s neighbour Sweden has experienced a spike in anti-refugee sentiment following the start of the current refugee crisis, with a suspected 20 arson attacks against asylum centres since the beginning of 2015. A reported record 2,452 people applied for asylum in Norway last week, with a total of 24,400 arriving in 2015 alone.