The suspected attacker used a bow and arrow, a spokesman for Norway’s southeastern police district, which includes Kongsberg, told CNN on Wednesday. The suspect is under arrest and is believed to have acted alone. He has not yet been questioned, according to Øyvind Aas, police chief of the county seat Drammen. There is “no active search for more people,” according to Aas. Speaking to press after the attack, the police chief said authorities had not ruled out the possibility of a terror attack. “From the course of events, it is natural to consider whether this is an act of terrorism,” he said. However, “the apprehended person has not been questioned, and it is therefore too early to say anything about this and what was the person’s motivation.” The suspect moved across a “large area” in the course of the attack and was apprehended at 6:47 pm local time, a police statement said. Speaking at a press conference in Oslo, the capital, Erna Solberg, the country’s outgoing prime minister, described the developments in Kongsberg as “gruesome” and promised that “all necessary resources” are being deployed. “The perpetrator has carried out horrific acts against several people. It is a very dramatic situation that has hit Kongsberg society hard, and the events shake us all,” she said. The attack comes on the eve of a new government in Norway, after last month’s parliamentary elections unseated the long-ruling Conservative party. Labour leader Jonas Gahr Støre is due to assume the role of prime minister on Thursday. In a Facebook post, Støre described the attack as a “cruel and brutal act.” “My thoughts and deepest sympathy now go to those affected, their families, and to the police, health personnel and aid workers who are now working full time to provide an overview and assist those who need help.” According to Aas, one of the injured is an off-duty policeman who was in a store. “The injured have been taken to hospital for treatment. The Kongsberg municipality has been notified and has set up crisis teams to assist and follow up with those who need it,” he said. Kongsberg is located 85 kilometers (about 53 miles) west of Oslo. Ama Joice October 13, 2021
