Police find five illegal lasers in russebuss after graduate loses eye sight

Police have found several illegal lasers in a russebuss after a high school graduate lost sight in one eye when hit by laser light during the night of 17 May, Dagbladet reports.

Four lasers were mounted under speakers inside the bus and shone through holes in the exterior, police attorney Hanna Hurv Nilsen of the Agder Police District told Dagbladet. A fifth laser was found loose inside the bus.

Preliminary examinations show the lasers are not labelled according to regulations for lasers sold in Norway and are therefore illegal, Hurv Nilsen said. One laser carried markings for both class 3B and class 4, indicating very high power. Due to health and safety concerns, the lasers could not be tested safely on site and will be sent to the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) for further analysis.

The bus itself was returned to its owners on Friday, but the lasers have been seized. Police are investigating the company that allegedly rented out the laser equipment. A key part of the investigation is to determine which specific laser caused the injury, to clarify the sequence of events and responsibility, and to prevent further injuries, Hurv Nilsen said.

The case is being investigated as negligent infliction of significant harm. No one has been formally charged so far.

The graduate was admitted to the eye department at Sørlandet Hospital in Arendal. Department head and senior consultant Espen Ringvold told Dagbladet the patient lost sharp vision and is effectively blind in one eye. He called the situation a national problem and said the danger of laser use is under-communicated. The hospital warned against lasers in russebusser on Monday, and police have also issued a warning, urging anyone with lasers on such vehicles to check compliance with regulations.