Copenhagen, Oct 14 (BNA): A Danish man detained in Norway is suspected of committing a bow and arrow attack on a small town that killed five people and injured two others, a man who had converted to Islam was previously reported as having converted to Islam. Being an extremist, police said Thursday.
“Earlier there were fears that the man had been radicalized,” Police Chief Olli B. Saverud told a news conference.
Severod said the victims were four women and a man, ages 50 to 70.
The man is suspected of shooting people at a number of locations in the town of Kongsberg on Wednesday night. Police said many of the victims were in a supermarket.
The Norwegian news agency NTB quoted police as saying that the suspect had used other weapons.
Police said there was a “confrontation” between the officers and the attacker regarding the arrest, but gave no details.
Both victims are hospitalized in intensive care. Among them was an off-duty police officer who was inside the store. Their condition was not immediately known.
Police said the officers who responded to the incident were shot with arrows.
The suspect is being held on preliminary charges, which are lower than the formal charges. The police believe he acted alone.
Police were alerted to the attack around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday and arrested the suspect about 30 minutes later.
“We will return to a more detailed description of the course of events when we have a better overview of what happened,” said police spokesman Oyvind As.
“Obviously, this is a very serious and widespread situation, which naturally affects Kongsberg and those who live here,” he said.
Prime Minister-designate Jonas Gayer Stoer, who is expected to take office later Thursday, called the attack “appalling”.
“It is unrealistic. But the truth is that five people have died, many are injured and many are in shock,” Gehr Steuer told Norwegian channel NRK on Thursday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote on Twitter that he was “shocked and saddened by the tragic news coming out of Norway”.
Township officials said the main church was open to anyone who needed support.
Kongsberg, a small town of about 26,000 people, is located about 66 kilometers (41 miles) southwest of Oslo.
RAE