Norwegian arrested over US police threat

A Norwegian man has been arrested after sending emails threatening to kill police in the American state of Maine with explosives and high-powered rifles, officials say.

Police departments across the United States are on high alert following attacks in Dallas and Baton Rouge last month that killed eight officers.

Portland police said in a statement that Espen Brungodt sent the threats to the Portland Police Department and local media outlets about 8.45am (local time) on Wednesday and was arrested unarmed and without incident roughly four hours later.

Police said  the 28-year-old entered the US on July 26 through Boston and was traveling with family members.

The Portland Press Herald newspaper published online a copy of the email it had received from Brungodt, which stated in part: "Time for more police to die."

"Very soon, my partners will head down to Portland Police Department ... There they will shoot and kill as many police officers as they can," the message read, according to the paper.

The message also said a nearby parking garage had been booby-trapped with explosives.

Police said the threats prompted the closure of the Cumberland County Courthouse after investigators determined the suspect was likely to be in the area.

Brungodt faces federal charges related to transmitting threatening communications, Portland police said.

The police statement said local authorities were assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Department of Homeland Security.

 

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