Police have arrested a 37-year-old Danish citizen after a man killed five people and injured two others with a bow and arrow in the Norwegian town of Kongsberg on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The attack, southwest of the capital of Oslo, is the deadliest in Norway since 2011, when a far-right extremist went on a shooting rampage and killed 77 people.
The big picture: The suspect, who lives in Kongsberg, was taken into custody and charged soon after the attack and transported to the nearby town of Drammen, according to a police statement. Police did not immediately disclose what he’s been charged with.
- The attacks happened over a large area of the town, according to The Guardian. Several parts of the town have been temporarily cordoned off by police , per the BBC.
- Police believe the man acted alone but will investigate whether the attack constituted terrorism, as they seek to determine a motive.
- Police are also investigating whether other weapons were used, per Reuters.
Of note: Police were temporarily ordered to carry firearms in the wake of the attack, breaking with the norm as Norwegian police are typically unarmed, the New York Times noted.
- “The police currently have no concrete indications that there is a change in the threat level in the country,” the police directorate said in a statement.
What they’re saying: “The reports coming from Kongsberg tonight are horrifying,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference, per Reuters.
- “I understand that many people are afraid, but it’s important to emphasize that the police are now in control,” she added.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated