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world news Diabierna 15 OctOber 2021

Bow-and-arrow killings in Norway seen as an ‘act of terror’

(AP) — The bow-and- held on preliminary charges Police were alerted to a man
arrow rampage by a man and will face a custody hear- shooting arrows about 6:15
who killed five people in a ing Friday. Police said they p.m. Regional prosecutor
small town near Norway’s believe he acted alone. Ann Iren Svane Mathiassen,
capital appeared to be a told The Associated Press
terrorist act, authorities “The whole act appears to be that after his arrest, the at-
said Thursday, a bizarre an act of terror,” said Hans tacker “clearly described
and shocking attack in Sverre Sjoevold, head of what he had done. He admit-
a Scandinavian country Norway’s domestic intelli- ted killing the five people.”
where violent crime is gence service, known as the
rare. PST. She said the bow and arrows
were just part of his arsenal.
Police identified the attacker ”We do not know what the Police have not said what else
as Espen Andersen Braathen, motivation of the perpetrator he used, but Voldseth told the
a 37-year-old Danish citi- is,” Sjoevold said in English. AP that when he ran toward
zen, who was arrested on the “We have to wait for the out- the sound of screams, he
street Wednesday night about come of the investigation.” saw a woman being stabbed
a half-hour after authorities by a man with some kind of he said.
were alerted. He said the suspect was weapon. New Prime Minister Jonas
known to the PST, but he Gahr Stoere called the attack Flags were lowered to half-
They said he used the bow declined to elaborate. The Voldseth said he recognized “horrific.” staff, and residents placed
and arrow and possibly other agency said the terror threat the attacker, saying he lived flowers, candles and stuffed
weapons to randomly target level for Norway remained nearby and “usually walks Dozens of people saw the animals around a makeshift
people at a supermarket and unchanged at “moderate.” with his head down and killings. Erik Benum, who memorial in a central square.
other locations in Kongsberg, headphones on.” lives on the same road as
a town of about 26,000 where Regional Police Chief Ole B. the supermarket that was at- Mayor Kari Anne Sand de-
he lived. Saeverud described the man “I have only spoken to him tacked, told AP he saw shop scribed the last 24 hours as a
as a Muslim convert and said a few times, but I have had workers taking shelter in “nightmare.”
Witnesses said their quiet there “earlier had been wor- the impression he might be doorways.
neighborhood of wooden ries of the man having been a person with problems,” he “The town was attacked last
houses and birch trees was radicalized,” but he did not said. “I saw them hiding in the night and five people died.
turned into a scene of terrify- elaborate or say why he was corner. Then I went to see I think most of the inhabit-
ing cries and turmoil. previously flagged or what Mass killings are rare in low- what was happening, and ants are in quite a shock that
authorities did in response. crime Norway, and the attack I saw the police moving in such a thing could happen
“The screaming was so in- recalled the country’s worst with a shield and rifles. It was here. This is a quiet town, a
tense and horrifying there Norwegian media reported peacetime slaughter a de- a very strange sight,” Benum quiet municipality,” she said,
was never any doubt some- the suspect had a conviction cade ago, when a right-wing said. adding that health and social
thing very serious was going for burglary and drug pos- domestic extremist killed 77 services officials are working
on,” said Kurt Einar Voldseth, session, and last year a court people with a bomb, a rifle Police, along with rein- to care for those who need
who had returned home from granted a restraining order and a pistol. Memorials were forcements from elsewhere, assistance.
an errand when he heard the for him to stay away from held in July on the 10th anni- flooded into Kongsberg and
commotion. “I can only de- his parents for six months af- versary of those slayings. blocked several roads. The The main church in Kongs-
scribe it as a ‘death scream,’ ter threatening to kill one of blue lights of emergency ve- berg also was open for those
and it burned into my mind.” them. People have “experienced hicles and spotlights from a needing comfort.
that their safe local environ- helicopter illuminated the
Four women and a man be- Svane Mathiassen told ment suddenly became a dan- scene. “I don’t think anyone expects
tween the ages of 50 and 70 broadcaster NRK the suspect gerous place,” King Harald V to have these kinds of expe-
were killed, and three other will be examined by forensic said. “It shakes us all when On Thursday morning, the riences. But nobody could
people were wounded, police psychiatric experts, which is horrible things happen near whole town was eerily quiet, imagine this could happen
said. “not unusual in such serious us, when you least expect it, Benum said. here in our little town,” the
cases.” in the middle of everyday life Rev. Reidar Aasboe told the
Andersen Braathen is being on the open street.” “People are sad and shocked,” AP.

Greece: Severe storm, floods batter Athens, fire-hit island

(AP) — Severe storms mer wildfires. Corfu, Civil Protection and The forest fires in northern vices, but flights at Athens
swept across Greece Climate Change Minister Evia, about 130 kilometers International Airport were
Thursday, flooding hun- Rescuers were also prepar- Christos Stylianides said. (80 miles) north of Athens, unaffected.
dreds of homes in Athens ing to use helicopters to lift left the area more vulnerable
and prompting evacua- stranded people off rooftops “There is no doubt that we to flash floods. The government issued push
tions on the island of Evia in flooded and remote areas are facing a dangerous weath- alerts in Greek and English
that was ravaged by sum- on the northwestern island of er phenomenon that is very Thursday’s storms battered to cellphones in affected ar-
serious in some parts of the the Greek capital and other eas, urging people to “avoid
country,” said Stylianides, a parts of southern Greece, unnecessary movement and
former European commis- causing traffic disruptions areas that have been or may
sioner for humanitarian aid and road closures. The fire be flooded.”
and crisis management. service received more than
300 calls in the capital to Schools in Athens, on Evia
On Evia, at least three areas pump water out of flooded and in a region in northern
hit by the wildfires in Au- homes, authorities said. Doz- Greece near the country’s
gust were being evacuated. ens of vehicles were stranded second-largest city, Thessa-
Several dozen people were on flooded roads, forcing loniki will be closed Friday.
moved out of their homes in the people inside to aban-
the north of the island and don their vehicles and wade The weather is expected to
were making arrangements through the water to safety. improve Saturday. ___ Srdjan
to stay with friends or at ho- Nedeljkovic in Athens and
tel rooms booked by the re- The heavy rainfall also dis- Costas Kantouris in Thessa-
gional authority. rupted public transport ser- loniki, Greece contributed.