2 arrested for stealing van transporting cyanide in Norway

Police in Norway arrested two men for stealing a van that transported poisonous cyanide to University of Oslo for research, public broadcaster NRK reported Saturday.

The vehicle transported medications as well as 25 grams of potassium cyanide, which was to be used by the university in cell research, the report said.

The dose is large enough to kill up to 125 people, NRK reported.

"The van has been missing since Feb. 20. It is very gratifying that the cyanide is now found. This is a potentially harmful substance and we have had high priority on finding it," police attorney Camilla Granstrom was quoted as saying.

Gisle Sveen from Oslo's Eastern Police District said that the two men were first stopped in a routine check on Friday evening, but managed to escape.

The van was finally found after a car chase that involved helicopters, several police patrols and police dogs who tracked the suspects, he added.