Police in Southern Norway have issued an international warrant for the arrest of a 46-year-old man in connection with a double murder in Kristiansand this week. The suspect is the father of an eight-year-old girl found dead along with her mother.
The community of Vågsbygd in Kristiansand was in shock after police found the bodies of the woman and her daughter in their home on Wednesday. Police Inspector Cecilie Pedersen said the suspect, 46-year-old Alwan Ahmed Alawneh, no longer lives at the same address.
“It’s very important that we get in contact with him,” Pedersen said, “because he’s a central person in the case and in our investigation.” She acknowledged that it’s unusual for Norwegian police to issue photos of those of charged in criminal cases, but they’re concerned Alawneh may try to leave the country if he hasn’t already. He’s a Norwegian citizen but originally from Palestine.
“It’s important for us to convey that being charged in a criminal case doesn’t mean he’s the assailant,” Pedersen said. “We continue to consider all possibilities and we’re not ruling out that others may be involved.”
Police also issued photos from surveillance cameras at a KIWI grocery that show Alawneh shopping on Tuesday evening. They believe the woman and her daughter were killed sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Police received a report of what they called “a violent incident” at the home in Vågsbygd Wednesday afternoon, and found the woman and her daughter dead at the scene.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
