Oslo kindergarten vandalised over summer break

A kindergarten in Oslo was left in ruins after extensive vandalism over the summer holiday, with floors, walls, and furniture smeared with food, paint, glitter, and glue, Dagbladet reports.

Alexander Mathiessen, a parent, discovered the damage when dropping off his child at Helenes Barnehage on Monday morning. He described one section of the facility as “completely devastated” and unusable.

“This isn’t some harmless prank,” Mathiessen told the newspaper. “It’s incredibly sad to see the children’s play and learning environment in this state. It’s a terrible way to start after summer break.”

He later posted in a local Facebook group, urging parents to speak with their children, particularly if any had returned home with glitter, paint, or glue on their clothes or shoes during the holiday.

Kristin Warm Drake, chair of the kindergarten’s board, confirmed the incident and said it had been reported to police. Though she has not seen the damage firsthand, she called it “devastating” and stressed that operations would continue using unaffected areas.

“We’ve ordered cleaning and are working to assess the damage to the premises and equipment,” Warm Drake said. No major structural damage has been reported.