An arrow left in a wall is seen after several people were killed and others were injured by a man using a bow and arrows to carry out attacks, in Kongsberg, Norway, October 13, 2021. Terje Bendiksby/NTB/via REUTERS
OSLO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - A man armed with a bow and arrow killed five people and wounded two others in a series of attacks in the Norwegian town of Kongsberg on Wednesday, local police said.
The suspect was in custody, police added.
"The man used a bow and arrow ... for some of the attacks," police chief Oeyvind Aas told reporters. The police were investigating whether other weapons had also been used, he said.
"The man has been apprehended ... from the information we now have, this person carried out these actions alone," Aas added.
One of the wounded people was an off-duty police officer.
Newspaper VG showed images of an arrow that appeared to be stuck in the wall of a wood-paneled building.
The death toll was the worst of any attack in Norway since 2011, when far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people, most of them teenagers at a youth camp
The attacks on Wednesday took place over "a large area" of Kongsberg, a municipality of about 28,000 people in southeastern Norway, 68 km (42 miles) from the capital, Oslo.
The government said police had launched a large investigation.
"The reports coming from Kongsberg tonight are horrifying," Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference.
"I understand that many people are afraid, but it's important to emphasise that the police are now in control," she said.
Following the attacks, the police directorate said it had ordered officers nationwide to carry firearms. Norwegian police are normally unarmed but officers have access to guns and rifles when needed.
"This is an extra precaution. The police have no indication so far that there is a change in the national threat level," the directorate said in a statement.
Aas said police would investigate whether the attack amounted to an act of terrorism.
Norway's minister of justice and public security, Monica Maeland, has received updates on the attacks and was closely monitoring the situation, the ministry said.
Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Victoria Klesty; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Crnobog00 on October 13rd, 2021 at 21:23 UTC »
Police now confirm that five people are dead and two injured. One of the injured is a police officer.
smotheredtodeath on October 13rd, 2021 at 20:38 UTC »
What we know from official sources (Police):
At 18:13 police recieved information that one individual (man) was shooting at people with a bow and arrow. At 18:47 the individiual was apprehended. Everything indicates that the man acted alone. The individual has not been questioned so no indications as to motivations. At this point what/how/why is still in the dark. Police say the only info they can give is that the apprehended individual is a man and in police control, although NRK has previously stated that the man is in his fifites.
Several people have been killed, and several wounded. There is currently a large area being locked down by police as the actions has been carried out over a large, yet undecided, area, so that the police can secure evidence.
The police can not confirm if the individual is previously known to the police, and he has not been appointed a lawyer.
The initial attack was carried out in a groceries store in which the suspect escaped with police chasing him from the scene. There was a confrontation between the individual and the police before he was apprehended, the official statement is that no police officers were injured in the apprehention, but the spokesperson will not confirm / deny that a police officer has been shot in the back during the apprehention of the suspect. Neither will they confirm / deny that shots have been fired by police. However they confirm that the suspect is in police custody, not in healthcare custody - indicating that the suspect is not injured.
Police will not confirm the concrete numbers of injured / deceased at this time.
Apologies if there is anything unclear here, as this is a live translation from the last press conference from the police spokesperson.
Edit: Press Conference from the prime minister and the minister of justice:at 10:48pm - No new information other than confirming that the police all over Norway has been given temporary arming until the situation is settled. Prime minister once again underlines that we do not know the reasoning for the attack but specifies that they can not confirm deny that this could be an act of terror, but that its a natural question to ask in these circumstances. They once again confirm that there are several killed and severaled injured from the situation.As there is a transfer of government tomorrow, the prime minster and her staff has been keeping the new government updated on the situation.
Extra Information: The recent election resulted in a change of government which is planned to go through tomorrow, so the current prime minister (Erna Solberg) and the minister of justice (Monica Mæland) - Informs that any future dealing from the governing body will come from the new government - Jonas Gahr Støre ( PM ) and XXX( unconfirmed leaks of new MOJ).
Edit2: 11:03PM The police confirms that the suspect is still not questioned, hence motivation can not be confirmed at this point. The police informs that several crime scenes will be investigated during the night.
11:04PM New press conference confirmed in 10 minutes, will update back.
Edit3: Confirmations that atleast 5 people are killed in the attacks.
Edit4: 11:15PM Inital information is that security during transfer of power tomorrow will be extraordinarily enforced, where it is usually relaxed with norwegian press.
Edit5: 11:17PM Police confirms that there are 5 killed individuals and 2 injured. 1 of the injured is an off duty police man - The situation from the start of the attack to the end still appear chaotic without a clear idea of how th events transpired. The police did fire warning -shots during the arrest. The local police has just recieved reinforcements from national police forces (kripos), and is looking forward to being helped by people with this special compentence.Questions regardin how exactly the situation was handled is and over what area is not being given a clear answer at this point. The police will not confirm / deny that the suspect is a native of the area neither what weapons the individual used.The police firing warning shots should speak for itself regarding the situation but the police will not confirm anything regardring this at this point.At this point the police has blocked of a large area and does not expect the habitants in the affected area to be able to move back home tonight.The police will not confirm anything regarding the suspect other than that he his a male.
The local police confirms that it is now helped by the (PST) Police security Service, but can still not confirm anything else than that the suspect is male, and that PST will investigate. They cannot confirm or give any information regarding the casualties - But admit that the larger part is from the local area. We have no information regarding the age, sex, or nationalty of the victims.
11:40PM No new information is expected tonight - What is being discussed is the involvement of PST and at what point they took over ( PST taking over is very important to how the case is being handled regarding terrorism / or the alternative). - and that the suspect might have used a crossbow.
11:47PM As there is no new news expected today I will be logging off. Send me a PM if you have any questions or need a source for anything specific.
Lexinoz on October 13rd, 2021 at 20:08 UTC »
CURRENTLY CONFIRMED INFORMATION:
Bow and arrow, not crossbow.
Started in a local shop. 4 confirmed dead. 1 Man arrested. "several" wounded.
Norwegian police temporarily armed. No current active search for more assailants.
Police confronted assailant. He escaped for a period. Now arrested.
Unsure if terror event or what the arrested's motivations were.