Norway Norway - Arjen Kamphuis, 47, Dutch citizen, Bodø, 20 Aug 2018

[Lorrie]

Agrees! But I find it reassuring that the local police gets help from KRIPOS and Dutch police because it is not very often people goes missing here and not is found. According to the local newspaper it is only 15 persons in 45 years who have gone missing in this region and not found, and some of them is lost at sea.

 

[Chiatos]

The video shows the wrong hotel and not the Scandic hotel he stayed at, beside the only new information it gives is that he spend some 7 days before at another hotel in town. So he would have stayed 10 days in Bodø, what have done those days before he disapeared?

According to the media, Arjen had stayed at the Scandic Havet hotel. Isn't that the Scandic Havet at Bodo in the video?
Ten days in Bodo, good question.

 

[Jaclin]

https://www.hartvannederland.nl/nie...-vindt-tent-in-zoektocht-naar-arjen-kamphuis/

Norwegian police finds tent in search for Arjen Kamphuis

Also this Thursday, the disappearance of the Dutchman Arjen Kamphuis is still big news in Norway. The police found a tent in the area where Arjen might possibly be.

Reporter Joya de Boer is in the Norwegian city of Bodø and tells that the newspapers are full of anxious reports. On Thursday morning the Norwegian police informed Hart van Nederland that they had found an orange tent with equipment in it and that tent would have been there for about three weeks. Walkers who have been in the area are called upon to report.

Dutchman Louis Kramer lives in Bodø and knows the area well. He has little faith in a good outcome. "I think he had an accident on his way to a summit," he says. "Because of the rain it is slippery and he may have fallen down."

If Arjen got lost or had a fall, making contact with the outside world is very difficult. "You have no coverage here for your mobile phone," Kramer explains. Moreover, it is an incredibly large area.


BBM


In the video it is said that Arjen Kamphuis habitually switches his phone off, so it is impossible to locate him. Norwegians would always take a well charged phone with them as a precaution.

Meanwhile, I can't find any mention that Arjen Kamphuis would be in possession of an orange tent, or any tent for that matter.

seems like they could find dna evidence inside the tent and compare that with dna on objects known to be his.

 

[Jaclin]

As an expert in cyber security, Arjen knows that he can be traced through his phone. If he wouldn't want to be found, he wouldn't even bother to switch SIM card. He would remove the battery.

It doesn't make much sense.

unless he was in trouble and wants to be traced

 

[ZaZara]

seems like they could find dna evidence inside the tent and compare that with dna on objects known to be his.

tent has been ruled out. nothinmg to do with AK.

 

[Lorrie]

According to the media, Arjen had stayed at the Scandic Havet hotel. Isn't that the Scandic Havet at Bodo in the video?
Ten days in Bodo, good question.

The hotel in the video is Scandic Havet, but the police officer says Hotel Scandic Bodø and that is a different hotel closer to the railway station, so I have no clue why they stands outside wrong hotel... In the local newspaper they have always said and had pictures from Scandic Bodø Hotel...

Most tourists use Bodø as an gate to the Lofoten islands or to travel around in the area, not staying in town for a long periode. But I imagine the archipilago is quite nice to paddle kayak in - a lot of local people does that so maybe that was his reason to stay put.

 

[Jaclin]

rbbm.
"WikiLeaks noted that Kamphuis might have disappeared in Bodo, Trondheim, or even on the train itself."

it seems like the train station in Bodo might have some camera footage they could look at to see if he was there between the time he left the hotel and before the departure of the train. MOO if he wasn't at the train station in Bodo then he wasn't on that train. He could still have found another way to get to Trondheim, of course. I've had a couple misadventures due to missing trains. overnighted at the Salzburg train station while it was under construction after missing my return train to Munich. another time I took a different train going in the general direction I wanted to go after missing the direct train. That location didn't feel safe once I got there. The connecting trip wasn't until the morning, and I didn't want to spend the night at the smaller station with everything closed, so I hiked (took streets following GPS) to the next town and arrived there just before the first train in the morning that went to where I wanted to go.

 

[Chiatos]

The hotel in the video is Scandic Havet, but the police officer says Hotel Scandic Bodø and that is a different hotel closer to the railway station, so I have no clue why they stands outside wrong hotel... In the local newspaper they have always said and had pictures from Scandic Bodø Hotel...

Most tourists use Bodø as an gate to the Lofoten islands or to travel around in the area, not staying in town for a long periode. But I imagine the archipilago is quite nice to paddle kayak in - a lot of local people does that so maybe that was his reason to stay put.

I presume that the officer forgot to add the word *Havet*. But ofcourse I could be mistaken.

According to previous media coverage, Arjen had been staying at the Scandic Havet. For instance: Cookies op AD.nl | AD.nl
In this article they emphasise that the Scandic Havet is a 4-star luxery hotel.

Do I understand that there is a discrepancy between wat is mentioned in Norwegian newspapers and in the Dutch news? i.e. Norwegian newspapers show the Scandic, whereas in Dutch media the Scandic Havet is described?

 

[ZaZara]

I presume that the officer forgot to add the word *Havet*. But ofcourse I could be mistaken.

According to previous media coverage, Arjen had been staying at the Scandic Havet. For instance: Cookies op AD.nl | AD.nl
In this article they emphasise that the Scandic Havet is a 4-star luxery hotel.

Do I understand that there is a discrepancy between wat is mentioned in Norwegian newspapers and in the Dutch news? i.e. Norwegian newspapers show the Scandic, whereas in Dutch media the Scandic Havet is described?

The policeman is standing in front of a different building, perhaps his own office. Whoever made the video has added images from the Scandic Havet hotel, but the officer clearly says Scandic hotel Bodø. The translation inserts Havet in between Scandic and Bodø, but that is not what he says. I cannot hear the Havet, nor notice it in lipsync.

These are two different hotels in Bodø and there has been confusion about the name from the beginning. I have seen comments like wrong name! or wrong picture!

Whatever the name of the last hotel, AK also stayed in the Radisson. I took a look at Tripadvisor and similar sites. All three are hotels in the top 5 of best hotels in Bodø, and they look more like business venues than a place where I would be staying if I wanted to get away from it all during a hiking holiday.
Can't imagine myself returning there after a day outdooors, all muddy and with a foldable canoe.

But a) that's me and b) maybe hotels in Norway are like that.

 

[ZaZara]

Dutch investigators to assist in search for missing Arjen Kamphuis

Two Dutch investigators will travel to Norway this weekend to help with the search for missing cyber specialist Arjen Kamphuis. The police confirm this to De Telegraaf.

When the detectives leave exactly, a police spokesman does not want to tell. Nor is it disclosed what exactly they hope to be able to add to the work of the Norwegian police.

Meanwhile, the concerns among Arjen's family and friends are increasing day by day. "I really thought he would have been found by now," says good friend Ancilla van de Leest. "It has been 18 days since he disappeared. That's quite a while to go missing."


BBM


Good question. What are they hoping to achieve that the Norwegian Police could not achieve on their own?

 

[Lorrie]

Chiatos: Yes, thats right! This is the one our local media have mentioned: Scandic Bodø | Hotell Bodø | Scandic Hotels

Scandic Havet is only 4-5 years old and still news in town so I guess that would give much more media attention... The officer also mention Radisson Blu Bodø as the first hotel he stayed at..

 

[Lorrie]

ZaZara: Yep, looking closer to where the police officer stands it is the police station behind him.. It is only 6 hotels in Bodø and a youth hostel. Then the last two I find is a 2 star hotel and the hospital hotel, so it is not much to choose from.. Scandic Bodø is mentioned as a family hotel and although it is a conference hotel it is more informal and the one beside the youth hostel that is closest to the railway station.

 

[Lorrie]

it seems like the train station in Bodo might have some camera footage they could look at to see if he was there between the time he left the hotel and before the departure of the train. MOO if he wasn't at the train station in Bodo then he wasn't on that train. He could still have found another way to get to Trondheim, of course. I've had a couple misadventures due to missing trains. overnighted at the Salzburg train station while it was under construction after missing my return train to Munich. another time I took a different train going in the general direction I wanted to go after missing the direct train. That location didn't feel safe once I got there. The connecting trip wasn't until the morning, and I didn't want to spend the night at the smaller station with everything closed, so I hiked (took streets following GPS) to the next town and arrived there just before the first train in the morning that went to where I wanted to go.

I dont know if the station has camera who store the footage - it is very strict laws against it here in Norway, but if they have I would think the police would have checked it out.

I would guess that if he was not on the train station or at the train it is only three other possibilities to get out of Bodø after 2.oo o'clock a.m. Get a ride from someone out of town, Bodø is at the dead end and if you want to go south it is easier to get a lift from Fauske at the E6 (europe road) than local. In the middle of the night arrives the Coastal Express southbound to Bergen on the west coast, it takes 3-4 days. Then it is the bus - but if you are not northbound, the other possibilities is get a lift south to Trondheim (about 10 hours) or take the train.

 

[Chiatos]

The policeman is standing in front of a different building, perhaps his own office. Whoever made the video has added images from the Scandic Havet hotel, but the officer clearly says Scandic hotel Bodø. The translation inserts Havet in between Scandic and Bodø, but that is not what he says. I cannot hear the Havet, nor notice it in lipsync.

These are two different hotels in Bodø and there has been confusion about the name from the beginning. I have seen comments like wrong name! or wrong picture!

Whatever the name of the last hotel, AK also stayed in the Radisson. I took a look at Tripadvisor and similar sites. All three are hotels in the top 5 of best hotels in Bodø, and they look more like business venues than a place where I would be staying if I wanted to get away from it all during a hiking holiday.
Can't imagine myself returning there after a day outdooors, all muddy and with a foldable canoe.

But a) that's me and b) maybe hotels in Norway are like that.

they look more like business venues than a place where I would be staying if I wanted to get away from it all during a hiking holiday.
Can't imagine myself returning there after a day outdooors, all muddy and with a foldable canoe.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[ZaZara]

ZaZara: Yep, looking closer to where the police officer stands it is the police station behind him.. It is only 6 hotels in Bodø and a youth hostel. Then the last two I find is a 2 star hotel and the hospital hotel, so it is not much to choose from.. Scandic Bodø is mentioned as a family hotel and although it is a conference hotel it is more informal and the one beside the youth hostel that is closest to the railway station.

Google maps says it is a 5 minute walk to the station. If he had wanted to leave his luggage there, it was only a short walk and he would have been free to move about for a half-day trip.

Previously, I had assumed that he had been hiking with full equipment, and for the duration of his entire holiday. Canoe, maybe a shelter and cooking stuff. Perhaps he started out that way, and changed his mind due to his knee. Whatever way, it has become clear that he was staying in hotels for (at least) 10 days. So if he went hiking or out in his canoe while he was staying in hotels, he would probably take a small day pack, and leave his toothbrush & all in the hotel.

IMHO, and you mentioned that too, it would make sense to leave the heavy luggage at the railway station on your last day. Or, what happens in many hotels, leave the luggage in the hotel until boarding time.

Would he have been able to leave his luggage in the hotel until the evening?

I would guess that if he was not on the train station or at the train it is only three other possibilities to get out of Bodø after 2.oo o'clock a.m. Get a ride from someone out of town, Bodø is at the dead end and if you want to go south it is easier to get a lift from Fauske at the E6 (europe road) than local. In the middle of the night arrives the Coastal Express southbound to Bergen on the west coast, it takes 3-4 days. Then it is the bus - but if you are not northbound, the other possibilities is get a lift south to Trondheim (about 10 hours) or take the train.

RS&BBM

AK had bought a train ticket on line. Why would he change his mind at the last minute and hitch a ride? IMHO he would do that only if he knew that person or had met them before.

If he changed his mind and boarded the Coastal Express, would he have needed a reservation for sleeping arrangements? He also would have missed his plane, would he have cancelled his flight and booked another one? IMHO it is likely that he would have done both.

Somehow AK evaporated in broad daylight during the 7 hours he had available to make a walk that would have taken 5 minutes.

 

[dotr]

Just slipping on a tinfoil hat to wonder if they are quite sure the man who checked in/out of the hotel was in fact AK, and thinking about the " heavy luggage" referenced up thread. Although AK usually carried a black backpack.
speculation, imo.

 

[Lorrie]

Zazara: I have never experienced a hotel who dont want to store your luggage until you leave so probably they would do that. But the hotel dont take the responibilities if something is missing or stolen while you store it there.

You can book a sleeper on the Coastal Express if they have any vacant or you can sleep in the cafe on the ship, but I have mostly traveled off season so I dont know how it is in August. I would guess that if he booked another flight in his own name the police would have known by now.

 

[Jaclin]

I am wondering if they actually confirmed that his luggage is not at the train station or the hotels.

 

[dotr]

Security expert tied to WikiLeaks vanishes, and the internet is abuzz
"OSLO, Norway — In a remote Norwegian town north of the Arctic Circle, a cybersecurity expert with ties to WikiLeaks checked out of a hotel, dressed in khaki hiking gear and carrying heavy baggage.

That was on Aug. 20. No one has reported seeing him since.

The disappearance of Arjen Kamphuis, 46, has so far flummoxed a widening police investigation that has chased stray clues and false leads in Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden"

 

[ZaZara]

Security expert tied to WikiLeaks vanishes, and the internet is abuzz
"OSLO, Norway — In a remote Norwegian town north of the Arctic Circle, a cybersecurity expert with ties to WikiLeaks checked out of a hotel, dressed in khaki hiking gear and carrying heavy baggage.

That was on Aug. 20. No one has reported seeing him since.

The disappearance of Arjen Kamphuis, 46, has so far flummoxed a widening police investigation that has chased stray clues and false leads in Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden"

This is the shorter version of this article with the same title by Henrik Pryser Libell NYT. Third time it is posted on this thread, and second time you posted it. I say this with love.
Every news outlet seems to copy / borrow from others because there is no new news. How I wish he was found! Alive! And well! Or a trace. A real sighting.

I'm beginning to believe in those conspiracy theories btw. Then I dig a little more into the conspiracies and I stop believing them. So where's Arjen?

Reporter Joya de Boer from Hart van Nederland confirms that Arjen Kamphuis was last seen in the Scandic Bodø hotel.

Joya de Boer‏ @JoyaHVNL 7 sep.
Joya de Boer on Twitter

Omdat scandic Bodø de laatste plek was waar Arjen was, dat zegt zowel de lokale politie als de elite eenheid van de politie KRIPOS. Andere info is onjuist.

Because Scandic Bodø was the last place where Arjen was, that is said by both the local police and the elite police unit KRIPOS. Other info is wrong.

BBM