Oslo police have made four arrests following a hand grenade explosion in Pilestredet on Tuesday evening. The incident, which occurred at approximately 8:15 PM, involved one grenade that detonated and another that failed to explode but was safely handled by authorities. No injuries were reported, though police emphasized the significant damage potential of the explosion.

Two 13-year-old boys were initially taken into custody on Tuesday night, with two additional older teenagers arrested on Wednesday evening. The older suspects are both above the criminal age of responsibility and have been charged with involvement in serious illegal handling of explosives. Police confirm that the two 13-year-olds remain in the care of child protection services and will be interviewed again on Thursday.

Investigators are working under the hypothesis that the explosion is connected to conflicts between criminal actors. Police Inspector Grete Lien Metlid stated that the leading theory suggests the teenagers may have taken on a "violence as a service" assignment, carrying out the attack on behalf of others. The target appears to have been a business premises near the explosion site rather than specific individuals.

The investigation continues to examine potential connections to a separate kidnapping case involving a 24-year-old man last week. Police are exploring whether there might be a motivational link, given that the kidnapping victim reportedly has family ties to the business owner operating from the premises near the explosion site. Authorities have not commented on possible international criminal connections and emphasize that further arrests remain possible as the investigation progresses.

Oslo police have issued a stark warning to parents about the dangers of encrypted messaging applications on children's phones, stating there is "no reason" for minors to use such services. During a digital parenting meeting streamed online Sunday afternoon, authorities highlighted how platforms including Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, and Zangi are being exploited by criminal networks to recruit young people for serious offenses.

Section leader Astri Johanne Holm of Oslo East's local police station emphasized that adults have been "too naive" about children's online activities. "Be interested in what your child is doing on social platforms," Holm advised parents. "There's no reason for a child or youth to walk around with an encrypted app on their phone." The warning comes amid growing concerns about criminal groups targeting vulnerable minors through digital channels.

Recent police operations have resulted in multiple arrests of underage individuals across Norway, with cases linked to criminal networks including Sweden's Foxtrot network. Authorities report that children as young as eleven are being recruited for criminal activities. Holm noted that while many people use encrypted apps legally to protect privacy, criminals exploit these platforms to avoid scrutiny from both police and parents.

The digital parenting event attracted significant public interest, with between 5,000 and 10,000 people following the broadcast across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Discord platforms. During the session, parents submitted over 200 questions about monitoring children's online activity without violating their privacy. Police recommended maintaining open dialogue and curiosity about children's apps and interests as the best prevention strategy, while also implementing broader measures including collaboration with child protection services and schools.