Threats lodged against school
Police in western Norway were holding a suspect on Monday in connection with threats made against a junior high school on an island near Bergen.
The suspect, who wasn't identified, was arrested after the threats were lodged against the Erdal School on the island of Askøy, over the Internet site YouTube."We have a person in for questioning," said Askøy sheriff Odd Dale, who added that the suspect had been under surveillance since Sunday.
Dale said a woman in England had found the video of the school on Askøy along with a threat. The date of November 19 was attached to the threat.
The video, reported bt.no, had English text and links to coverage of the recent school massacre in Finland that left eight persons dead.
The video reportedly was published on YouTube last Thursday evening, with a new version appearing on Friday. It was accompanied by the John Lennon song "Working Class Hero."
Teachers at the school were alerted Sunday evening and the entire school was searched by police and specially trained dogs.
All students arriving for school on Monday were searched and put through metal detectors.
The school has 280 students. Principal Leiv Jan Nielsen said officials were taking the threat seriously, "not least with regard to what happened in Finland."
Officials considered closing the school on Monday, but decided it would be safe for it to remain open.
Nielsen went from class to class on Monday, to explain what had happened and ask for the students' help, if they knew anything about the YouTube video.
Aftenposten's reporters
Morten Andersen
Nicolai Heyerdahl
Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund
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