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POLICE

Police to question Norwegian prime minister over Covid-19 rule break

Police are questioning witnesses and have confirmed that they plan to question Prime Minister Erna Solberg after she breached local and national coronavirus rules.

Police to question Norwegian prime minister over Covid-19 rule break
Photo: screenshot Instagram: @erna_solberg

In a statement released on Monday police said they had “started questioning witnesses and are now conducting investigations to find out the circumstances surrounding possible violations.”

Police will also question the PM’s husband Sindre Finnes.

Per Morten Sending, prosecutor for the Buskerud area with the southeastern police district, told newspaper VG police considered it would be “relevant to have a chat with both Erna Solberg and Sondre Finnes”.

Solberg apologized on Friday after it emerged that during her 60th birthday trip to ski resort Geilo, in southern Norway, two private gatherings with more than 10 people present took place, in breach of restrictions in place at the time.

READ ALSO: These are Norway’s Covid-19 guidelines for the Easter holidays

Police launched an investigation into the two gatherings. Solberg was only present at one of the two.

“For the time being, it is too early to say anything about when we can conclude this investigation. We must conduct interviews to gain clarity on what has happened and whether this can be followed up with regard to local or national (coronavirus) regulations,” Sending said.

“It may also be relevant to question the prime minister and her husband,” Sending added.

Sending told broadcaster NRK that police expect to finish the investigations and questioning later this week.

If prosecuted, the prime minister is likely to face a fine, police told NRK on Friday.

“If they come to the conclusion that rules have been broken, we will of course make up for it. I’m prepared to pay fines if we’ve broken the rules,” Solberg told NRK.

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COPENHAGEN

Copenhagen police to limit cars on busy nightlife streets

Copenhagen will limit cars on narrow streets in areas thronging with bars and clubs from June 1st to crack down on nighttime public disturbances, police said on Tuesday.

Copenhagen police to limit cars on busy nightlife streets

The affected streets are all located in lively parts of the capital designated as “nightlife zones”, which police monitor closely, and violations from midnight to 5am will be subject to a 3,000 kroner fine.

“Drivers parade in their cars in the nightlife zones, they accelerate loudly, play loud music, scream at passers-by and generally create insecurity and traffic situations that are downright dangerous,” Copenhagen police chief Tommy Laursen said.

“By banning car traffic, our aim is to prevent all of that,” he added.

The zones are located near Copenhagen’s City Hall, a popular pedestrian area and Kødbyen, the old slaughterhouse neighbourhood in the popular Vesterbro district.

The crackdown does not affect residents, taxis or essential transport such as trash collection, ambulances and delivery vehicles.

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