Although the police had intelligence that a raid was expected in the coming days, they were understaffed and unprepared because of Easter, a national holiday in Norway.

Equipped to hold off the police, the gunmen wore bulletproof vests, helmets, ski masks, gloves and overalls, and were armed with automatic weapons and a .45 ACP pistol.

[citation needed] The gunmen undertook extensive means to delay a police response while the NOKAS depot was attacked.

The raiders planned to gain access through a window overlooking a courtyard at the centre of the office block, believing it would not be adequately protected as it was an old building.

During this time the employees escaped before seven gunmen finally gained access to the ground floor of the NOKAS building.

The 37 NOKAS employees received compensation worth a total of nine million kroner due to the trauma they suffered during the robbery.

Living in Skjeneholen with his girlfriend and newborn son, he rented a flat near Stavanger used as a rendezvous point for him and his accomplices to prepare and dress for the raid.

Officer Arne Hammersmark gave an account of the following points in his testimony: Added to this, several key elements had gone underground and rumours were rife they had taken up residence in the Stavanger area.

The thirteen men involved in the NOKAS robbery were convicted and sentenced to a total of 181 years in prison on 10 March 2006.

Hence, the three judges overturned the jury's acquittal and ordered a retrial, causing huge controversy and public debate on the current justice system in Norway.