Heimevernet conducts largest capital-area drill with nearly 5,000 troops
Around 5,000 soldiers from the Oslo and Akershus Home Guard district will train simultaneously in Oslo streets this week, with visible weapons and vehicles.
From Monday to Friday, the Oslo and Akershus Home Guard district will carry out its largest training operation of the year, deploying nearly 5,000 soldiers in the capital region. The exercise, named "Hovedstad," will feature visible weapons, military vehicles and road-side checkpoints where soldiers practice stopping and inspecting cars. Authorities stress that the presence of weapons does not indicate an actual incident and that the drill is not triggered by any concrete threat.
The civilian part of the exercise has been reduced out of respect for the recent passing of King Harald V, while the military activities will proceed as planned. Organizers ask the public to obey traffic rules, respect barriers and stay clear of designated training zones.
Why it matters
The drill tests Norway's readiness and shows how military activities will coexist with daily life in the capital.
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