– It was a bad joke that has gone beyond many people, says Thea Wold Bøvre. She is assistant restaurant manager at Olivia in Stavanger. In the glorious summer weather that was last Friday afternoon, the outdoor dining area was full. At around 4.30 pm, a man in a Finnish cap threw a sack into the serving area, shouted something and ran. The police in Stavanger shortly after the incident happened on Friday. The person who threw the bag was caught a few hundred meters away eleven minutes after they received the message. Photo: Heidi Karin Gilje Skog People panicked, says Bøvre. The police came to the city, evacuated parts of the city center and finally got hold of the man who had thrown the bag, shouted and run. It turned out that it was “just” supposed to be a joke at a stag party. Many people had a completely different impression of the incident. Bøvre was at work. When the bag was thrown in, she was inside. But she remembers well how the Friday summer idyll suddenly changed the restaurant. Thea Wold Bøvre. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news – It was just to act on instinct. It created panic. It wasn’t long before it was empty, she says. The guest has reported the matter to the police. Kjartan Hjorteland is one of those who were there. Along with him was the eight-year-old son. The two sat inside, but quickly became aware of what was happening. The atmosphere outside quickly moved inside. – There was howling and screaming. I myself was in the process of breaking a window to be able to evacuate, he says. Kjartan Hjorteland says he went into “fight or die” mode. He is particularly concerned that there were several children who found Friday frightening. Photo: Even Hye Tytlandsvik Barka / news The worst thing for Hjorteland was that there were children present. – It was perceived as a death threat, he says. On Monday, he reported the incident to the police. – This is an expression to show the police some of the fear and panic that many felt. This was particularly serious, he says. Eight people in the bachelor party were taken by the police on Friday. – We are taking the incident seriously. All those involved have been questioned, as have several witnesses, says police attorney Per Terje Brundtland. Per Terje Brundtland, police attorney. Photo: Even Hye Tytlandsvik Barka / news The police still have some investigation to do, but Brundtland says they should be finished in a “short time”. – This was a particularly poorly executed bachelor party. This was taken very seriously by those who experienced it. Many were frightened, he says. – Hateful to see employees and guests Three days later, many are still affected by what happened, says Bøvre. The employees who were at work received assistance from the occupational health service, and the restaurant encouraged guests to contact the emergency telephone number of the Stavanger Emergency Service. She says she has great respect for those who were at work. The guests feel bad for her. – It was terrible to see employees and guests affected by this, she says. She has nothing to spare for the joke. – It will be up to us to take care of guests and staff afterwards, she says. From inside Olivia in Stavanger. One has a view of Vågen, where many people gather – especially on weekends with good weather. Through the window you see a cruise ship Måndag. On Friday, there were two of these in Vågen. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news
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– It created panic – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
