Status: 10/16/2021 7:19 p.m.
A German national was killed in the attack in Kongsberg, Norway. This was confirmed by the Foreign Office of ARD. Investigators now have doubts about the terrorist motive and the suspect’s conversion to Islam.
In Kongsberg, Norway, on Wednesday, according to information from ARD capital studios a German citizen was also killed. “Unfortunately we have to confirm that one of the victims is a German citizen who has been living in Norway for a long time,” said a spokesman for the Foreign Office. The Norwegian media and t-online had previously reported this.
The Norwegian police released the names and ages of the five fatalities. The four women and one man were therefore between 52 and 78 years old. The investigators did not provide any information about the identity of the three injured.
Doubts about the terrorist motive
According to their own statements, the investigators increasingly doubt that the attacker had a terrorist motive. Instead, the suspicion of a mental illness was confirmed, said police inspector Thomas Omholt at a press conference.
According to the Norwegian police, the Dane has been in constant contact with the health service in recent years. Omholt did not want to comment on details about the mental health of the man in order not to influence testimony, as he emphasized.
There are also indications that the suspect has not actually converted to Islam. The 37-year-old “did not adhere to the traditions common in this culture and religion,” said Omholt.
“Nonspecific Threat” 2017
The question arises as to why the suspect was not investigated further by the authorities. In 2017 he published a video in which he described himself as a Muslim and a messenger and announced an action.
A spokesman for the PST police security service said the video was not viewed as a serious threat because the content was unspecific.
Suspect in custody
The 37-year-old is said to have admitted that he killed five people in downtown Kongsberg on Wednesday evening. Among other things, he shot numerous people with a bow and arrow.
Meanwhile, a court ordered four weeks of pre-trial detention. The man has to spend the first two weeks in isolation. In addition, the court imposed a ban on visits, the media and letters. Due to his state of health, however, he is not yet able to be questioned. He was not in a prison but in a closed medical facility, the police said.