The Innlandet police district announced at 11:21 PM Thursday that a person had been arrested and was suspected of starting the fires, following an arrest made at 8:30 PM. According to operations leader Bård Einar Hoft, the police believe that someone has set the fires. The police did not explain why the arrest was reported three hours later, a question NRK has asked without receiving an answer.
The series of fires began just after 4:00 PM in Briskebyen, according to multiple reports. Shortly after, a new fire was reported in the same district, with heavy smoke development in a residence. A few hours later, emergency services received reports of two more fires in Rollsløkka and Disen. The first four known fires occurred within a radius of under 1 kilometer. A fifth fire incident was reported to police on Thursday evening at Ridabu, where a fire in terrain, grass, or hedge occurred around 4:50 PM and was extinguished by a resident in the area, though it was first reported to police in the evening.
Police do not believe the fires are coincidental and see them as connected, according to operations leader Bård Einar Hoft. The police see a clear connection between the incidents and have escalated preparedness, though they do not know whether there was one or more perpetrators. The specific motive or reason behind the suspected arson attacks remains unknown.
According to police, residences were set on fire, with moderate damage to all buildings. No persons were injured in the fires, but a police officer was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. There is a large police presence in the city that will last over time, according to police.
People in Hamar were asked to be vigilant and keep an eye on their property. Police are urging people to be vigilant, keep an eye on their property, and report suspicious activity immediately.
The arrested person will be presented for custody hearing on Saturday and does not admit guilt, according to his defense attorney. The arrested person is known to police from before and will undergo a forensic psychiatric assessment.