Norway terror suspect ‘regrets’ not killing more people in attack on mosque
A Norwegian man suspected of murdering his ethnic Chinese stepsister before opening fire in an Oslo mosque has said he was “ashamed” he did not cause more harm.
Philip Manshaus told his trial, which began on Thursday, that the attack was an act of “emergency justice”.
The 22-year-old denied the charges of murder and terror read to him by a prosecutor, reported Norwegian news agency NTB.
Manshaus acknowledged the facts but denied the accusation. He reiterated his far-right beliefs, including opposing non-western immigration and claiming that white Europeans are subjected to genocide and “will end up as a minority in their own home countries”.
As he entered the court, Manshaus held up a hand to signal the “OK” sign, a gesture appropriated by far-right white supremacists as a way to signify “white power”.
Manshaus also said he was inspired by a number of terrorists, including New Zealand terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people in attacks on two mosques last March, and Anders Breivik, who murdered 77 people in the 2011 Norway attacks.
Swedish-language newspaper Aftenposten reported he also cited Adolf Hitler as a “role model” for himself.
Manshaus described in his testimony how he killed his 17-year-old stepsister, Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen, who was adopted by his family from China when she was two.
He shot her three times in the head and once in the chest with a hunting rifle at their home in Baerum, a suburb in Oslo.
After that, he said he drove to a nearby mosque where three elderly men were preparing for Eid al-Adha celebrations. He wore a helmet and a bulletproof vest, and was armed with a hunting rifle and shotgun.
At the mosque, he fired four shots with the rifle at a glass door before one of the men there, Muhammad Rafiq, overpowered him. He fired two more shots during the scuffle but no one was hit, although Mr Rafiq sustained a slight injury.
Manshaus said in his testimony he wanted to kill Rafiq, adding: “I did everything I could to carry out the attack… I am ashamed because I did no more harm.”
He said he was exhausted when police arrived at the scene.
The prosecution said Manshaus acted “with the intention to kill as many Muslims as possible”.
Footage of the attack was recorded on a GoPro camera Manshaus attached to his helmet, with the intention of livestreaming the attack. The video, which was seen in court, reportedly showed Manshaus singing as he drove to the mosque, firing shots there and kicking in a door.
It also showed the struggle between him and Mr Rafiq as he was overpowered. Manshaus can be heard moaning and begging to be killed, saying: “I can’t do anything more. I am faithful to my people.”
Some 30 witnesses, including the men at the mosque and Manshaus’ father, are expected to give evidence as his trial continues.
He faces up to 21 years in prison if found guilty. The prosecutor said it would consider a sentence where he would be sent to a secure mental facility for as long as he is considered a danger to others.
Additional reporting by agencies
