Norweigan police investigate 'several' cases of sexual abuse at refugee centres
POLICE in Norway are investigating several cases of sex offenders allegedly abusing children at asylum-seekers' centres.
Migrants arrive in Norway after crossing the border with Russia
The abuse in Norway was reported in the autumn and winter last year.
The incidents have reportedly included abuse by known sex offenders.
Axel Wilhelm Due from the National Criminal Investigation Services said: "We are looking very seriously at every individual case, and based on our information it's very likely that children living in reception centres in Norway have been and are being subjected to sexual abuse.
Sleeping facilities at a refugee centre in North Norway
"But generally there is low criminal activity in and around the reception centres."
According to Mr Due, police would not provide details about the alleged cases at this stage.
Last year, more than 31,000 people applied for asylum in Norway - 5,300 were unaccompanied minors.
Residential centres in the north of Norway
In Sweden, police said they have arrested 14 men on suspicion of preparing attacks on an asylum-seekers' centre near Stockholm.
Various weapons, but no firearms were found in cars during the arrests on Monday evening.
Swedish Radio has cited local police officer Lars Alvarsjo as saying they were Polish, and possibly members of right-wing groups.
Refugees arrive at the refugee centre
Norway groups call for humanitarian measures for refugees
The arrests come amid increasing opposition to migrants and reports of attacks against refugee centre in the Scandinavian country.
At the end of December, Norway pushed for a crackdown on migrant rules after 30,000 entered the country in 2015.
Immigration Minister Sylvi Listhaug, of the right-wing Progress Party, said the country’s influx of migrants was one of the highest numbers in Europe in relation to its population size, which is just 5.1 million.