It was a traditional party for the officers at the Garrison of Sør-Varanger (GSV) which came out of control for several of the participants. The garrison is in charge of the Norwegian border control on the Norwegian-Russian border.
The party was held both inside and outside a military building, and there was established a big fire outside. Late at night some of the officers got to drunk and started to throw furniture on the fire and they also threw fire extinguishers into the flames.
The Garrison commander, Jørn Erik Berntsen, is shameful, sad and angry over what has happened.
– My employees have done things this weekend which I thought they could never even think of doing. This case will undergo thoroughly investigation and will be handled very seriously by us, says Berntsen to the local newspaper Sør-Varanger Avis.
Several of the officers which were involved in the damages could now lose their job in the military. The day before the party there was also an incident with an officer who drove under the influence of alcohol. Berntsen therefore describes the last weekend as one of the most embarrassing in the garrisons history.
