Police identified the attacker as Espen andersen Braathen, a 37 year-old Danish citizen. He was arrested on Wednesday night, just half an hour after authorities were alerted.
He used the bow and an arrow, and possibly other weapons, to randomly target people in a Kongsberg supermarket and other locations. Kongsberg is a small town of approximately 26,000 where he resides.
Witnesses claimed that their peaceful neighborhood of wooden houses, birch trees and homes was transformed into a scene full of terror and chaos.
Kurt Einar Voldseth said that the screaming was so loud and horrible, there was no doubt that something was very serious. He had just returned from an errand and heard the commotion. It was a “death scream” that I can only describe and it burned in my brain.
Police said that four women and one man aged 50-70 were killed and three others were injured.
Andersen Braathen was arrested on preliminary charges. He will be facing a custody hearing on Friday. According to police, he was acting alone.
Hans Sverre Sjoevold (head of Norway’s domestic intelligence agency, the PST) stated that “the whole act appears as an act of terror.”
