Oslo Police Urge Vigilance as Criminals Target Youth via Messaging Apps

20-10-2025


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.

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Six Convicted in Linköping Gang Leader Murder Case

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A Swedish court has convicted six individuals for their involvement in the murder of a 41-year-old gang leader in the Berga district of Linköping during the summer of 2024. The Linköping District Court delivered verdicts in the case, which involved eight defendants originally charged with participation in the killing. The court established that the murder was carried out according to a criminal plan orchestrated by members of an organized crime network based in the Berga area.

The victim was fatally shot in a public space near Berga Church in Linköping on August 13, 2024. Multiple gunshots struck the man in his back and head during the daylight incident, which occurred near residential buildings and a playground. Several members of the public witnessed the shooting, adding to the evidence presented during the trial.

Court proceedings revealed that a 14-year-old boy fired the fatal shots that killed the gang leader. The teenager, who has admitted to the killing, was not prosecuted due to being below the age of criminal responsibility under Swedish law. Instead, prosecutors focused on the eight older individuals allegedly involved in planning and facilitating the murder, all of whom had denied the charges against them.

Evidence presented by prosecutors included extensive documentation of movement patterns through surveillance footage, GPS data from electric scooters, and mobile phone analysis. The court determined the victim had been lured to the crime scene under the pretense of a drug transaction, with communication occurring through a special Snapchat account and a dedicated mobile phone later found buried in nearby woods. Six of the eight defendants were found guilty, with two receiving life sentences for murder while others were convicted of aiding the killing.