Kongsberg: Norway bow and arrow attack leaves five dead and two injured

A man armed with a bow and arrow has killed five people and injured two others in the small Norwegian town of Kongsberg.

Norway's acting Prime Minister Erna Solberg described the attack against shoppers in the town, near Oslo, as "gruesome".

"It is a very dramatic situation that hits the community in Kongsberg hard. The events shake us. I understand that many are afraid," she said.

How did the attack in Kongsberg unfold

The police announced earlier on Wednesday evening that a person had been seen shooting people with a bow and arrow in central Kongsberg, and they warned people to stay indoors.

Officers first received reports of an attack from people in the town’s centre shortly after 18.00 local time.

The suspect was apprehended around 30 minutes later. He was taken to a police station in nearby Drammen.

"We will return to a more detailed description of the course of events when we have a better overview of what happened," said police inspector Øyvind Aas. "It goes without saying that this is a very serious and extensive situation."

What do we know about the victims of the Kongsberg attack

Police have confirmed that five people were killed in the incident.

Two other people were injured and are in intensive care in hospital. One of those injured was an off-duty police officer, who was found in a supermarket, one of multiple locations where the attack took place in Kongsberg.

What do we know about the attack suspect

Police said overnight on Wednesday that they had charged a man over the attack. He is a 37-year-old Danish citizen living in Kongsberg.

Earlier, law enforcement said they believed he was the sole attacker.

"Based on the information we have now, this is a person who has carried out these actions alone," Aas told a news conference.

He said there was no active search for any more suspects.

Police say the motive for the attack is still being determined and that terrorism had not been ruled out.

What has been the reaction to the attack

The prime minister-designate, Jonas Gahr Stoere, who is expected to take office on Thursday, called the assault “a cruel and brutal act” in comments to Norwegian news agency NTB.

An arrow left in a wall after the attackHakon Mosvold Larsen/Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB

Solberg, Norway's outgoing PM, said: "A man has killed several people in Kongsberg and several are injured. Police confirm that the perpetrator has been arrested. As far as the police know now, the perpetrator was alone. It is important to emphasise that there is much we do not know yet. It is too early to say anything about the motive behind the actions, but the police are considering whether it is a terrorist act.

"The messages coming from Kongsberg tonight are gruesome. The perpetrator has carried out horrific acts against several people. It is a very dramatic situation that hits the community in Kongsberg hard. The events shake us.

"I understand that many are afraid. Therefore, it is important to emphasise that the police are now in control of the situation. Our thoughts go first and foremost to those affected and to those closest to them."