Norway Mosque Gunman, Charged with Terrorism and Homicide, Not Cooperating With Investigators
UPDATE
Homicide and mosque shooting in Bærum: The person charged will appear in remand proceedings today at 1 PM
The remand proceedings will take place in Oslo District Court, court room 250.
The prosecuting authority will request that the person charged be remanded in custody for four weeks, with a ban on visits and communication, without access to the media and in solitary confinement.
He is now charged with homicide (Penal Code section 275) and terrorist acts (Penal code section 131 first subsection cf. subsection 2 b).
The prosecuting authority will request that the proceedings be held in camera so as not to risk destruction of evidence, since the investigation is still in the initial stage, and since the person charged has not made a statement to the police.
Shootings against mosque and homicide in Bærum: Aggressor‘s stepsister identified as the homicide victim
The Oslo police confirm that the homicide victim found yesterday was the aggressor’s stepsister (aged 17). The family has been informed about this information being made public. Published 11.08.19|
Solicitor Abdul-Satar from the law firm Actio has been appointed counsel for the aggrieved person at the mosque. The family of the deceased has not yet been appointed any counsel.
-The investigation has given us a better overall understanding of the attack. The fact that the aggressor entered a mosque armed and from the investigation so far has been found to have expressed hostile attitudes against immigrants has led the police to investigate this attack as an attempted act of terrorism. The act was also apt to cause serious fear, says acting Police Station Chief Rune Skjold. Oslo Police District is now cooperating closely with the Norwegian Police Security Service.
As part of the investigation we are attempting to make contact with witnesses in the neighbourhood where the young woman was found dead. If you have information, please tip the police using the tip site at tips.politiet.no/straffesak.
The aggressor refused to give any statement to the police this night, but new questionings will be carried out.
Onsite investigation confirms that several shots were fired, but the number of shots and the type of weapons are not yet established.
-There is no doubt that the swift and firm response from the persons inside the mosque stopped the aggressor and prevented further consequences. Trying to neutralise an armed person is always dangerous. These persons showed great courage, says Skjold.
-We have not received any information about unwanted incidents in connection with todays social events. Most of the larger events reportedly have now ended, but the police preparedness will remain elevated, says Deputy Chief of Police Jan Eirik Thomassen.
VOA The lawyer of the man suspected of opening fire in a mosque in Norway says his client is not cooperating with investigators.
“He is exercising his right not to be interrogated,” the lawyer said Monday. “He is not admitting any guilt.”
The suspected gunman, 21-year-old Philip Manshaus, appeared in court Monday to face charges of attempted murder and murder in connection with last Saturday’s attack outside of the capital, Oslo.
His face and neck were covered with bruises and he had two black eyes.
No one was killed at the mosque, but hours later police found the body of the gunman’s stepsister at another location.
In addition, the mosque shooting is being treated as an attempted terror attack. Rune Skjold, Oslo deputy police inspector, said Sunday, police have discovered evidence of the gunman’s “right-wing extremist views” and alleged hostility against immigrants.
There were only three people at the al-Noor Islamic Center when Manshaus entered the place of worship Saturday.
He began shooting at two men, but another man, a 65-year-old retired Pakistani Air Force officer, was able to tackle the gunman.
Mohammad Rafiq, the retired military officer, told Reuters in a video interview, that when he tackled the gunman “the pistol and the gun fell away.”
Rafiq suffered minor injuries.
Irfan Mushtaq, the head of the mosque, entered the scene shortly after the shooting. He told AFP that he saw “one of our members is sitting on the perpetrator. . . “
Skjold said the people in the mosque showed “great courage.”
“There is no doubt that the swift and firm response from the persons inside the mosque stopped the aggressor and prevented further consequences,” Skjold said. “Trying to neutralize an armed person is always dangerous.”
