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Shooting at Norway mosque investigated as 'possible act of terrorism' -police


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Shooting at Norway mosque investigated as 'possible act of terrorism' -police

By Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

 

2019-08-11T124835Z_1_LYNXNPEF7A0FC_RTROPTP_4_NORWAY-ATTACK.JPG

People gather outside the Islamic Cultural Centre to show solidarity with the Muslim community after Saturday's shooting at a mosque, in Oslo, Norway, August 11, 2019 Fredrik Hagen/NTB Scanpix/via REUTERS

 

SANDVIKA, Norway (Reuters) - An attack by a gunman at a Norwegian mosque on Saturday will be investigated as a possible act of terrorism, police said on Sunday.

 

The suspected shooter at the al-Noor Islamic Centre near the Norwegian capital - a young, white male carrying several guns - had expressed far-right, anti-immigrant views online, assistant chief of police Rune Skjold told a news conference.

 

"We're investigating this as an attempt at carrying out an act of terrorism," he said.

 

 

The suspect had been apprehended after the attack, in which shots were fired but no one was hit, with one of the people inside the mosque having overpowered him before police arrived.

 

"These people showed great courage," Skjold added.

 

Only three people were present in the mosque at the time of the attack, preparing for Sunday's celebration of the Eid-al-Adha festival, mosque spokesman Waheed Ahmed told Reuters on Saturday.

 

Mohammad Rafiq, a 65-year-old retired Pakistani Air Force officer, was the first of the three to approach the attacker, themosque said.

 

"I suddenly heard shooting from outside," Rafiq told Reuters via an interpreter, adding that a man then entered the building with guns and pistols.

 

"He started to fire towards the two other men," Rafiq said, adding that he had then grabbed the attacker, holding him down and wrestling the weapons off the attacker.

 

His eye red and one hand swollen, Rafiq, who has lived in Norway for the past two and a half years, said he was still recovering from the attack.

 

"He put his finger inside my eye, up to here; full finger inside my eye," Rafiq added.

 

The attacker, who has not been named, was also suspected of killing one of his own family members, a young woman who was found dead at his home, police said earlier.

 

The mosque had implemented extra security measures this year after the massacre of more than 50 people at two New Zealand mosques by a suspected right-wing extremist.

 

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said police had ramped up security on Sunday as thousands of Muslims gathered at mosques for the Eid celebration.

 

While the government continuously tries to combat hate speech, more must still be done, she added.

 

"We are trying to combat this, but it's a challenge. I think it's a word-wide challenge in a sense," Solberg said.

 

In 2011, anti-Muslim neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik massacred 77 people in Norway's worst peacetime atrocity, the majority of them teenagers at a youth camp.

 

(Writing by Terje Solsvik; Editing by David Goodman)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-12
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39 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mohammad Rafiq, a 65-year-old retired Pakistani Air Force officer, was the first of the three to approach the attacker, themosque said.

 

"I suddenly heard shooting from outside," Rafiq told Reuters via an interpreter, adding that a man then entered the building with guns and pistols.

 

"He started to fire towards the two other men," Rafiq said, adding that he had then grabbed the attacker, holding him down and wrestling the weapons off the attacker.

Good man. 

 

I wish you Eid Mubarak, you deserve it for your life saving actions. 

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Another appalling shooting.

 

Whatever the reasons there is no justification for such acts. Glad they subdued him quickly and probably saved many innocent lives.

 

Side note. Lovely looking building promoting Islamic culture in Norway. Wonder what the Christian cultural centers look like in Saudi Arabia, Iran, or any Muslim country? One way tolerance and acceptance will always lead to serious problems.

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Another appalling shooting.
 
Whatever the reasons there is no justification for such acts. Glad they subdued him quickly and probably saved many innocent lives.
 
Side note. Lovely looking building promoting Islamic culture in Norway. Wonder what the Christian cultural centers look like in Saudi Arabia, Iran, or any Muslim country? One way tolerance and acceptance will always lead to serious problems.
I am not sure about Saudi but Muscat has several very nice churches built by Sultan Qaboos to allow Christians to worship in Oman.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

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8 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

Another appalling shooting.

 

Whatever the reasons there is no justification for such acts. Glad they subdued him quickly and probably saved many innocent lives.

 

Side note. Lovely looking building promoting Islamic culture in Norway. Wonder what the Christian cultural centers look like in Saudi Arabia, Iran, or any Muslim country? One way tolerance and acceptance will always lead to serious problems.

Or any muslim country?

 

There is only one country that bans other religions, Saudi Arabia.

 

Perhaps you should heed your last sentence before spouting off.

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They have named the terrorist in the Norwegian media , 21 year old Philip Manshaus. 

He was inspired by the Christchurch massacre in NZ and had a camera attached to a helmet filming the attack,  he was going to stream it live on Facebook.  Luckily the mosque was almost empty , and some brave men captured him and called the police. 

 ddc94624-e18f-4bbf-af0c-60caeb1291e8?fit

Image result for philip manshaus

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