AT LEAST five people have killed and several others have been injured after rampaged through the Norwegian town of Kongsberg with a bow and arrow.
The local police chief, Oeying Aas, said the suspect began his attack just after 6pm local time (7pm UK time) before police arrived and detained him at around 6.45pm. He is currently in police custody.
Aas said there was “a confrontation” between officers and the assailant, but he did not elaborate.
Two other people were wounded and hospitalized in intensive care, including an officer who was off duty and inside the shop where the attack took place, police said.
Read our blog on the latest updates below.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 31 minutes ago
Police not ‘actively’ searching for anyone else
“The man who carried out the act has been arrested by the police, and there is no active search for more people. Based on the information we have, there is one person behind this,” Police Chief Oeying Aas said.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk Today, 03:30
Acting PM calls attack ‘gruesome’
Acting Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg has called the attack “gruesome” in a press conference.
However, she insisted it was too early to speculate on the man’s motive.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk Today, 03:00
Where is Kongsberg?
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk Today, 02:30
Attacks covered ‘large area’ of city
The attacks 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.
Following the attacks, the police directorate said it had immediately 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.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk Today, 02:00
Attack won't affect government change
The attack happened on the eve of a new government taking power Norway.
Outgoing prime minister Erna Solberg said the mass murder would not affect the handover and the new prime minister would be sworn in as planned.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk Today, 01:30
Suspect 'had confrontation' with police
The police chief in the community of Kongsberg, near the capital of Oslo, said there was "a confrontation" between officers and the assailant, but he did not elaborate. Two other people were wounded and hospitalized in intensive care, including an officer who was off duty and inside the shop where the attack took place, police said.
"The man who carried out the act has been arrested by the police, and there is no active search for more people. Based on the information we have, there is one person behind this," Police Chief Oeyving Aas said.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk Today, 01:00
Police are ‘in control’, says acting PM
“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.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 00:30
Police investigating ‘other weapons’
“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.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 00:00
Update: Police say five dead
A man armed with a bow and arrows killed five people Wednesday near the Norwegian capital of Oslo before he was arrested, authorities said.
The police chief in the town of Kongsberg said there was “a confrontation” between officers and the assailant, but he did not elaborate.
Two other people were wounded and hospitalized in intensive care, including an officer who was off duty and inside the shop where the attack took place, police said.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 23:50
Arrows seen at the scene
Multiple people have been killed after a man opened fire with a bow and arrowCredit: Twitter
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 23:40
Where is Kongsberg?
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 23:30
Police investigating ‘other weapons’
“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.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 23:20
Attacks covered ‘large area’ of city
The attacks 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.
Following the attacks, the police directorate said it had immediately 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.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 23:12
Area cordoned off
A large area of the town was reportedly evacuated and cordoned off after a man opened fire with a bow and arrow.
Local media reported the suspect started shooting at people from inside a Co-op Extra supermarket in the town’s west.
Shocked onlookers also spoke of finding a seriously injured woman with an arrow in her body calling out for help in a pool of blood near a traffic junction.
Several more were described as severely injured with unconfirmed reports from the scene suggesting around five people had been killed.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 23:02
Death toll largest since Anders Behring Breivik
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
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 22:55
Police are 'in control', says acting PM
"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.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 22:48
Police investigating 'other weapons'
"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.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 22:30
Update: Police say five dead
A man armed with a bow and arrows killed five people Wednesday near the Norwegian capital of Oslo before he was arrested, authorities said.
The police chief in the town of Kongsberg said there was "a confrontation" between officers and the assailant, but he did not elaborate.
Two other people were wounded and hospitalized in intensive care, including an officer who was off duty and inside the shop where the attack took place, police said.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 22:25
Attacks covered 'large area' of city
The attacks 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.
Following the attacks, the police directorate said it had immediately 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.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 22:14
Police not 'actively' searching for anyone else
"The man who carried out the act has been arrested by the police, and there is no active search for more people. Based on the information we have, there is one person behind this," Police Chief Oeying Aas said.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 22:02
Acting PM calls attack 'gruesome'
Acting Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg has called the attack "gruesome" in a press conference.
However, she insisted it was too early to speculate on the man's motive.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 21:55
Police across Norway on high alert
Police across the country have reportedly been put on high alert following the attack.
Norwegian police are typically unarmed but are reportedly being given weapons since the attack.
Speaking at a press conference, a police spokesperson said they arrested the suspect around 30 minutes after they were called. They said the suspect attempted to run but did not say whether or not there had been any shots fired.
Suspect arrested at 18:47. Police were called at 18:13.
There was a confrontation and the suspect ran. Police decline to speak about the circumstances of the arrest and whether or not shots were fired, but do confirm no injuries to officers. #Kongsberg
— Philip O'Connor (@philipoconnor) October 13, 2021
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 21:50
Outgoing Norwegian government to hold press conference
The outgoing Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg and justice minister Monica M？land are expected to hold a press conference on the attack shortly.
The pair are due to leave office tomorrow after their party was defeated in parliamentary elections last month.
Norway’s prime minister and minister of justice, both being replaced by a new government tomorrow, will have a press conference about the attack in Kongsberg shortly. Follow NRK’s live broadcast here: https://t.co/rznSERP6mC
— Anders Tveg？rd (@AndersTvegard) October 13, 2021
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 21:45
Police to investigate whether attack was terrorism related
Norwegian police declined to comment on the number of casualties, but said they will investigate whether the attack amounted to an act of terrorism.
"It's natural to consider whether this was an act of terror," police chief Oeyvind Aas told reporters but insisted the man had not yet been questioned.
caroline.mortimer@thesun.co.uk 13th Oct 2021, 21:36
Suspect wandered streets shooting people
Police were alerted to the attack around 6:30 p.m. and arrested the suspect about 20 minutes later. The community is 66 kilometers (41 miles) southwest of Oslo.
According to police, the suspect walked around the city shooting at people with arrows. Several people were wounded in shops, Aas said.
The man has not been questioned yet, and his motive was unknown, Aas said.
City officials invited people who were affected by the attack and their relatives to gather for support at a local hotel.
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