The attack on al-Nur Islamic Center, near Oslo, by a young man with guns on Saturday, August 10, is considered by the Norwegian police as a probable terrorist act.
The attacker expressed on the Internet far-right opinions opposed to immigration, according to Rune Skjold, Deputy Chief of Police.
"We are conducting this investigation as an attempt to commit a terrorist act," he told reporters.
The suspect, who fired several shots inside the Islamic center near the Norwegian capital, was controlled by the people who were there before the arrival of the police. He was then detained.
Mastered by a former soldier
At the time of the attack, only three people were in the mosque and were working on preparations for Eid al-Adha Sunday, according to the spokesman of the Waheed Ahmed Mosque.
"These people have shown great courage," said Rune Skjold.
Mohammad Rafik, a former Pakistan Air Force officer, managed to control the assailant while he was inside the building with guns.
"Suddenly, I heard shooting from outside," said the 65-year-old former officer. "He (the attacker) started shooting at the other two men," he said.
The former soldier then rushed to the attacker, threw him to the ground and struggled to take his weapons.
Touched by one eye and one hand, Rafik, who has been living in Norway for two and a half years, says he is recovering from his injuries. "He put a finger in my eye, a finger in my eye," he says.
The assailant allegedly killed a family member
The assailant, whose identity was not specified, also reportedly killed his 17-year-old half-sister. A young woman was found dead at her home, the police said.
On Sunday, the police reinforced the security measures to protect the thousands of Muslim faithful participating in Eid, announced the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
"We continue to fight this, it's a challenge, I think in a way it's a global challenge," she said.
With Reuters