In this case, armed police forces were quickly mobilized to meet what was clearly a major crime. The robbers fired at random passersby during the heist.
A group of people waiting for a bus in front of the Cathedral were sent scurrying as a gun battle broke out between criminals and a police car. The two officers who were shot were in the command van at the scene.
Just before the robbery was carried out a burning truck was used to block the car exit at Stavanger police station. According to local firefighters the truck was full of plastic containers of gasoline. Police managed to mobilize via a rear exit when the news of the robbery broke.
"The robbery took place in an underground floor at NOKAS. There were several masked men armed with automatic rifles. Shots were fired both by robbers and police and it was during this exchange of fire that a policeman was shot and killed," said Rogaland police commissioner Olav Sønderland.
Police warned the public not to approach the criminals who are heavily armed and also wearing bullet-proof vests and gas masks.
The robbery was carried out with tear gas and automatic weapons and the gang managed to make off with an as yet unknown amount of money.
Police quickly set up roadblocks in a large area of downtown Stavanger and a helicopter was brought in to help chase the thieves.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that some of the criminals may still be in the NOKAS building and that witnesses said that as many as 10 may have been involved in the heist.
NOKAS is owned by Norway's central bank and other major finance institutions: DnB NOR Bank, Fokus Bank, SpareBank 1 Gruppen, Terra Gruppen and Sparebanken Hedmark. The company's job is to insure the circulation of quality cash as well as the transport of valuables and emptying cash point machines.
