Norway arrow attack

An arrow is left in a wall at the scene where a man armed with bow killed several people before he was arrested by police in Kongsberg, Norway, on October 13, 2021. – A man armed with a bow and arrows killed several people and wounded others in the southeastern town of Kongsberg in Norway on October 13, 2021, police said, adding they had arrested the suspect. “We can unfortunately confirm that there are several injured and also unfortunately several killed in this episode,” local police official Oyvind Aas told a news conference. “The man who committed this act has been arrested by the police and, according to our information, there is only one person involved.” (Photo by Terje Bendiksby / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT

Danish man arrested after five people were killed with bow-and-arrow in Norway

A 37-year-old Danish citizen was arrested following a bow-and-arrow attack in Norway, which left five dead and two seriously injured on Wednesday night.

Norway arrow attack

An arrow is left in a wall at the scene where a man armed with bow killed several people before he was arrested by police in Kongsberg, Norway, on October 13, 2021. – A man armed with a bow and arrows killed several people and wounded others in the southeastern town of Kongsberg in Norway on October 13, 2021, police said, adding they had arrested the suspect. “We can unfortunately confirm that there are several injured and also unfortunately several killed in this episode,” local police official Oyvind Aas told a news conference. “The man who committed this act has been arrested by the police and, according to our information, there is only one person involved.” (Photo by Terje Bendiksby / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT

A 37-year-old man from Denmark was arrested for allegedly killing five people and seriously wounding two others with a bow and arrow on Wednesday evening, 13 October, in Kongsberg, Norway. The police have not yet established a motive for the attack but said terrorism could not be ruled out. However, authorities assured the public that the situation is now under control.

BOW-AND-ARROW ATTACK

The Norwegian police were first alerted to the attack at 18:13 local time. The attack took place across several locations in Konsberg, which is southwest of the capital Oslo.

A Danish suspect was arrested on suspicion of committing the murders. Police believe the suspect acted alone but are investigating the possibility that the attack may be related to terrorism.

Oyind Aas, the local Norwegian police chief, confirmed that five people were killed and two were injured. The injured were placed in intensive care units at hospital but their lives did not appear to be in danger. One of those injured was an off-duty police officer.

“The man who committed this act has been arrested by the police and, according to our information, there is only one person involved,” said Aas.

SUSPECT IS A DANE LIVING IN NORWAY

Aas told the media that the suspect is a 37-year-old Danish citizen that lives in Konsberg. The authorities felt the need to reveal this because early reports alleged that the attacker was Norwegian.

“We decided to confirm this information because many rumours were circulating on social networks about the perpetrator of the attack, some [implicating] people who have no connection with these serious acts,” said the police in a statement.

The suspect reportedly launched the attack inside a supermarket on the west side of Kongsberg, which is where the off-duty police officer was injured.

A witness told local broadcaster TV2 that she heard a noise and saw a woman taking cover before seeing a “man standing on the corner with arrows in a quiver on his shoulder and a bow in his hand.”

“Afterwards, I saw people running for their lives. One of them was a woman holding a child by the hand,” she said.

Aas said the suspect escaped from police initially but was arrested 34 minutes later at 18:47. The suspect moved across a large residential area and authorities have blocked off several parts of Konsberg as they examine the scenes and gather evidence.

The police are also investigating whether the attacker used other weapons during the incident, according to BBC News. Norwegian public broadcaster NRK published an image – sent in by a witness – that showed a black arrow stuck in a wall, while other images showed “competition-grade” arrows lying on the ground, according to AFP.

Following his arrest, the suspect was taken to a police station in Drammen, Norway, where the lawyer chosen to defend him – Fredrik Neumann – said he was cooperating with the police.

The tragic attack took place on the final day of Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s term in office.

This is the most violent episode Norway has experienced since far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in 2011.

Additional reporting by AFP.