– The investigation into the case suggests that the violent incident can be linked to the “pedo hunters” grouping, says Malin Skeibrok, police attorney in the Sør-Vest police district. On 1 July, a man in his 30s was subjected to violence by several people in Sandnes municipality in Rogaland. – There are currently three accused in the case, and they are all under 18 years of age. The charge concerns grievous bodily harm, says Skeibrok. Maren Eide is defending one of the accused. She does not wish to comment on the matter at this time. Neither does Anne Hølland, who is defending one of the other accused. – The accused are in their teens, beyond that we currently do not want to go into further detail about their age, says Skeibrok. She confirms that they link the incident to a network of “pedo hunters”, based on findings made during the investigation. Skeibrok does not want to say anything about the course of events due to considerations for the investigation. Tricked into traps “Pedo hunting” is a phenomenon where people suspected of child abuse are tricked into a planned meeting place, only to be confronted by “pedo hunters”. Often it ends in physical violence. – They lure people they think are pedophiles into a trap, by arranging to meet by pretending to be minors. The person is then confronted, among other things, with what has been written online. Most often this is filmed and shared online. So says Heidi Mork Lomell, professor of criminology at UiO. Recently, there have been several similar incidents around the country. Ingeborg Grindheim Slinde / news Six charged and one suspect after stabbing in Luster A 14-year-old is charged with attempted murder and four other teenagers are charged with aiding and abetting grievous bodily harm, after a man in his 50s was stabbed in a wooded area in Luster. A 16-year-old is charged with aiding and abetting serious bodily harm during the panning phase and a young teenager is suspected of the same. The victim is also charged with arranging a meeting with a minor with the aim of sexual intercourse. Unknown Five people charged with deprivation of liberty in Agder A man in his 40s is said to have been lured to a meeting by young people in Agder, where they filmed him, accused him of being a pedophile and published video of the incident online. Five people between the ages of 16 and 19 have been arrested and charged earlier in June, accused of deprivation of liberty. Nils Fridtjof Skumsvoll Three teenagers charged with beating up men In Vestfold and Telemark, three people aged 17-18 are charged with beating up four men in Oslo, Larvik and Porsgrunn. The boys are said to have believed that the men were pedophiles. This was also filmed and shared online. The professor points to a possible reason why people engage in precisely “paedo hunting”. – Sexual offenses are one of the offenses for which there is the greatest agreement that it is reprehensible. It upsets people, and it is easy to create commitment and support around. Heidi Mork Lomell does not think it is a coincidence that it is precisely sexual offenses that arouse interest. Photo: University of Oslo / Another reason for the flourishing of the phenomenon is the idea that violence is a more acceptable form of violence. That it can be more easily justified than, for example, violence against a random homeless person or drug user. – It is a type of sense of justice. They think that the judiciary is not doing enough, and that they must therefore do it themselves. But the motives for taking on the role of public defender are not necessarily always as noble, Lomell believes. – It turns out that those who are most active in such groups have often been at odds with the law themselves. What are their real motives and joys in being part of this, I think is a bit more complex than what they say themselves. – About thrill-seeking Several videos from Norway have been shared, and the phenomenon has spread in the Scandinavian countries. The Police Security Service (PST) has previously stated that they are investigating whether people who carry out this violence and encourage it may be linked to a far-right ideology. – We have nothing more to add beyond what we said then, says Senior Adviser in PST, Martin Bernsen. A person who is behind a newly created account that encourages “taking the pedophiles” with whom news has been in contact in the past, rejected the link. – I think it’s primarily about thrill-seeking among young people. They are inspired by things they see on the internet and want to do the same, psychologist specialist Pål Grøndahl told news earlier this summer. Criminal proceedings were opened against the 30-year-old Due to information that has come to light during the investigation of the violent incident in Sandnes, another criminal case was opened. This was done to investigate whether the man in his 30s, who had been subjected to serious bodily harm, had agreed to meet a minor with the aim of having sexual intercourse. Unni Byberg Malmin says that a criminal case was opened against the 30-year-old man, but that it has now been dropped. Photo: Ingvild Stuedal Taranger / news – The victim of violence has had the status of a suspect in this case. It has now been abandoned. No reasonable grounds have been found to investigate the case further, says police inspector Unni Byberg Malmin in the South-West police district. She explains that the person the 30-year-old suspect had arranged a meeting with, neither met, nor intended to meet the man. Hans Marius Thorsnæs is the defense attorney for the man who was subjected to serious bodily harm. Thorsnæs does not wish to comment on the case at this time. Published 03.08.2024, at 21.18
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– Linked to the “pedo hunters” grouping – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
