Norway bow and arrow attack - latest: Suspect’s mental health evaluated as first court hearing held
The suspect in a bow-and-arrow attack in Norway which left five people dead is being cared for by health professionals, the police have confirmed.
Espen Andersen Braathen, 37, has confessed to killing five people during his rampage. He is thought to have been radicalised after converting to Islam, according to Norwegian police.
“Braathen was on Thursday transferred into the care of health services after an assessment of his health situation,” the force said on Friday.
Four women and one man aged between 50 and 70 died during incident in the town of Kongsberg on Wednesday. Three other people, including a police officer, were injured by the assailant.
On Friday, a Norwegian court will determine how long he can be initially held in detention. Andersen Braathen will not appear in person.
Earlier this week, Norway’s security service said the incident "appears to be an act of terror”, but did not give any further details.
The attack’s death toll is the worst in the country since 2011, when far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik murdered 77 people at a youth camp.
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Key Points
Espen Andersen Braathen faces custody hearing on Friday
Suspect named in terror attack
Suspect to be held initially for four weeks, court rules
11:41 , Rory Sullivan
The man who allegedly carried out the bow-and-arrow attack in Norway can be initially held for four weeks while investigations continue, a court has decided.
Espen Andersen Braathen, a 37-year-old Danish citizen, has already admitted to carrying out the atrocity.
He is currently being looked cared for by the health services.
Students locked themselves in bedroom during attack
11:16 , Rory Sullivan
A student has described how the bow-and-arrow attacker tried and failed to enter his accommodation on Wednesday.
The assailant got into a number of houses and a supermarket on his killing spree in Kongsberg, Norway.
Student Mohammed Shaban told Reuters that he and his friends found the man trying to enter the open window.
“My friend said: ‘What’s happening, what’s happening? Who is he?,’” the 25-year-old told the news agency.
“We ran into the bedroom to save ourselves and I held on to the door-handle...From the window I saw the man, wearing grey jeans and a white singlet. I saw him from behind.”
The man then ran away.
Health professionals caring for suspect, police confirm
10:44 , Rory Sullivan
The 37-year-old man suspected of carrying out this week’s deadly bow-and-arrow attack in Norway is now in the care of health professionals, the police have confirmed.
“Braathen was on Thursday transferred into the care of health services after an assessment of his health situation,” the force said in a statement.
Pictures: Tributes paid to victims
10:18 , Rory Sullivan
Five women and men aged between 50 and 70 died in Wednesday’s bow-and-arrow attack.
To pay their respects, residents laid flowers and lit candles in Kongsberg, the Norwegian town where the atrocity took place.
Espen Andersen Braathen faces custody hearing on Friday
09:56 , Rory Sullivan
A Norwegian court will hold a custody hearing on Friday over this week’s killings in Kongsberg, a town 43 miles from Oslo.
It will decide how long the suspect, Espen Andersen Braathen, can initially be held.
His lawyer Fredrik Neumann said yesterday that Andersen Braathen will not oppose the request to keep him in custody.
He is set to undergo a full psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he was sane at the time of the attack.
Suspect named in terror attack
09:35 , Rory Sullivan
The suspect in the deadly bow-and-arrow attack in Norway on Wednesday was named yesterday as 37-year-old Muslim convert Espen Andersen Braathen.
“There earlier had been worries of the man having been radicalised,” police chief Ole B Saeverud told a press conference on Thursday.
Here’s what we know about Andersen Braathen:
Police name suspect in Norway bow and arrow attack
09:32 , Rory Sullivan
Good morning, and welcome to our coverage on the deadly bow-and-arrow attack in Norway earlier this week.
