UPDATED: A 19-year-old man repeatedly stabbed a 16-year-old girl at a school in Lier, west of Oslo, on Monday. The young man fled the scene but was quickly tracked down by police on patrol with dogs, and under arrest in nearby Drammen Monday afternoon.
Police said there had been a romantic relationship between the two involved and that the 16-year-old was not a random victim. She was reported to be in serious condition and underwent surgery Monday afternoon at the hospital in Drammen, while the 19-year-old was charged with attempted murder. He later admitted to the stabbing but denied criminal responsibility. He agreed to being held in custody for at least the next four weeks while police continue their investigation.
There were several witness to the stabbing, which took place inside St Hallvard High Shool in Lier. “It looked like a normal quarrel between a guy and a girl,” one fellow student told state broadcaster NRK. “Then I saw the guy begin hitting her but I didn’t see the knife. Then he ran off.”
The school quickly set up a crisis team to help those who witnessed the stabbing. “Our most important job now is to make sure both students and teachers get whatever follow-up assistance they need,” Unni Aadalen, principal at the school, told NRK. The crisis team, school leaders and advisers were planning to remain at the school well into the evening as police continued their investigation.
newsinenglish.no staff
