Terror suspect wanted to kill

Manshaus, arrested for murder and mosque attack, says he wanted to intimidate Muslims

Photo: Mo’men Salah / Pexels

Brian Kerr
Norway Today

Terror and murder-accused Philip Manshaus, 22, told police that he wanted to kill as many people as possible in the Al-Noor mosque in Bærum, according to VG.

The prosecutor in the case, police attorney Pål-Fredrik Hjort Kraby in the Oslo police district, has not had the opportunity to comment on the information, communication adviser Silje Daugstad said.

The suspect’s lawyer, Unni Fries, does not want to comment on what has been said in the interrogation.

Manshaus attacked the Al-Noor Islamic Center mosque on Skui in Bærum on Saturday, Aug. 10. He fired shots, but 65-year-old Mohamed Rafiq tackled him, and no one was seriously injured.

After a questioning about one week after the attack, police lawyer Kraby told Aftenposten that Manshaus’s explanation has

strengthened the police’s theory of the motive behind the attack in the mosque.

“He has explained that it was linked to religion, a desire to intimidate Muslims in Norway,” Kraby said.

Manshaus is charged with terror, in addition to the murder of his step-sister, Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen, 17, which happened before the mosque attack.

Manshaus has agreed to a complete judicial observation to clarify his accountability. Defense lawyer Fries has confirmed to NTB that the client will talk to the experts who are appointed. The talks will take place at Ila Prison and Detention Center, where Manshaus sits in custody.

This article was originally published on Norway Today.

This article originally appeared in the September 20, 2019, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.