Norway to review handling of bow-and-arrow attack

Helsinki, October 16

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The Norwegian authorities are commissioning an independent investigation into the actions of police and security agencies following a bow-and-arrow attack that killed five persons and injured three in the town of Kongsberg this week.

Police under fire

• Police officials have said the officers on the scene observed a suspect but took cover and called for reinforcements when arrows were fired at them
• The officials have acknowledged the armed suspect got away and likely killed the five victims aged 50-70 years, outside and inside some apartments

Norway’s domestic intelligence agency, known by the acronym PST, said it had decided to seek the review after consulting the country’s national and regional police commanders. A 37-year-old Kongsberg resident, who the police said admitted to Wednesday night’s killings, is undergoing psychiatric evaluation.

“Given the seriousness of the matter, it is very important that learning points and any weaknesses and errors are identified quickly in order to be able to implement measures immediately,” PST said in a statement. The Norwegian media have questioned how long it took officers to apprehend suspect Espen Andersen Braathen after the regional police department received reports about a man shooting arrows at a supermarket. According to a timeline from the police, the first information was logged at 6.13 pm and Andersen Braathen was caught at 6.47 pm.

A senior police officer during a news conference said three weapons, including the bow and arrow, were used in the attack but declined to identify the types or to reveal how the five victims

were killed. — AP