Police introduce stop-and-search zone and enhanced penalty zone following explosive fire

Funen Police will introduce both a stop-and-search zone and an enhanced penalty zone from torday at 7:00 p.m. in large parts of Odense SØ following an explosive fire in a stairwell in Korsløkkeparken.

The explosion-related fire occurred during the night of 1 February at approximately 2:29 a.m. No one was injured in the incident.

According to Funen Police, the zones are being introduced to prevent further criminal activity while the investigation continues. The zones will apply around the clock until and including 15 February 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

The areas include, among others, Korsløkkeparken, the blocks around Nyborgvej, Vollsmose, adjacent allotment gardens, as well as the area around Rosengårdscenteret and Bilka.

Chief of Police Arne Gram states:

“Today’s incident reflects a callous, unscrupulous and outright insane mindset. That is why we are now making use of zones in order to have greater freedom with regard to stop-and-search measures. This is not a tool we introduce lightly, as it constitutes a serious intrusion into citizens’ privacy, but in light of today’s incident, we see no other option.”

Funen Police are working on the hypothesis that the perpetrator or perpetrators are to be found within the criminal milieu in Odense. Police and the Danish Home Guard remain present at the scene, where technical investigations are continuing.

The police state that they are not yet able to determine what was detonated, and they are in ongoing contact with explosives experts from the Danish Defence’s EOD unit to clarify this.

The stairwell where the explosion occurred remains cordoned off, and all residents have been rehoused.

Funen Police continue to urge anyone who has seen, heard, photographed or filmed anything before, during or after the incident to come forward. This also applies to recordings from surveillance cameras and dashcams.

Information can be provided to the police by calling 114.