Man Arrested After Assault on VY Staff at Fredrikstad Station on Little Christmas Eve
A man was arrested after attacking a VY employee at Fredrikstad station on Little Christmas Eve. The incident was caught on camera and has sparked outrage.
Witness Describes Terrifying Scene
A woman in her 20s, who was on the train from Sarpsborg to Oslo, witnessed the brutal assault. "It was very uncomfortable," she told VG. Two men in their late teens sat next to her and started talking about their recent release from jail.
The witness claimed the men got into a heated argument with the conductor about a ticket check they received earlier in the day. When the conductor said their ticket wasn’t valid, one of the men pushed the conductor off the train and onto the platform, attacking them.
"He was shouting and swearing while he was hitting him," the witness recalled.
Fredriksstad Blad was the first to report on the incident.
VY Assures Public Safety
Police confirmed they received a call about the incident at 4:39 PM on Little Christmas Eve. "By the time we arrived, the suspect had fled the scene," said Finn Håvard Aas, operations leader at the Eastern Police District.
A bystander provided a image of the assault, showing the conductor receiving multiple kicks from the assailant.
The suspect, who is not a resident of Fredrikstad, was later apprehended by police. They had previous knowledge of the individual.
Kaja Rynning Moen, press representative for VY, told VG that the conductor was not injured. "He’s doing well, given the circumstances, and is being taken care of."
Rise in Violence on Trains
In 2024, VY has reported 70 incidents to the police, marking an increase from previous years. However, Moen stressed that traveling by VY remains safe.
"We have 65.8 million journeys annually, and out of that, 70 incidents have been reported. It’s rare for violence to occur, even with the increase this year," Moen explained.
To stay informed about local news and more, visit VG.no.
