Explosives discovered in garden lead to arrest of 28-year-old Swedish man in Fredrikstad

On Monday morning, several individuals were evacuated after explosives were discovered in the garden of a family home in Fredrikstad. Late Wednesday evening, a 28-year-old Swedish man was arrested in the same city. He is accused of possessing explosives intended for a criminal act, but he denies the charges. One theory investigators are exploring is that the explosives were accidentally placed in the garden of an unsuspecting family.

On Friday, the court ordered the 28-year-old to be held in custody for four weeks with restrictions on mail and visitors. He will also be isolated from other inmates for the first two weeks of his detention.

Police crime technicians worked at the site where the explosives were found. Reports indicate the suspect was apprehended at the Quality Hotel in downtown Fredrikstad, where about five to six police officers entered one of the hotel rooms.

The hotel has previous notoriety, as it was where two individuals charged in a November 2022 shooting in Moss stayed before an attempted murder that left a Swedish man in his thirties seriously injured.

Residents of the affected family home discovered the suspicious item in their garden and subsequently alerted the police, leading to the involvement of the bomb squad and the national crime unit, Kripos. A family member expressed frustration and fear, questioning the circumstances of the incident.

The 28-year-old has given a statement to authorities but reportedly does not understand why he has been arrested. His lawyer noted that the man is in shock, perceiving the situation as surreal. Previous records show he has been involved in minor offenses in Sweden, including drug possession and driving under the influence.