The sincerity of the conversion to Islam of Espen Andersen Bråthen, who killed five people with a bow on Wednesday in Norway, is questioned at this stage of the investigation, Norwegian police said on Saturday.
"The hypothesis that he converted to Islam is less credible," Inspector Per Thomas Omholt said at a press conference.
The police officer explained that the progress of the investigation reinforced doubts about the mental health of Espen Andersen Bråthen, who admitted to killing five people and injuring three others on Wednesday in Kongsberg (south-eastern Norway), where he resides.
“The assumption is that he didn't take (the conversion) very seriously.
By that we mean that he did not follow or use the traditions that are common in this culture and religion, ”said the policeman.
"Everything suggests that he chose his victims at random"
Espen Andersen Bråthen, a 37-year-old Dane, was remanded in custody for four weeks on Friday, the first two in total isolation. Rather than in prison, he will be kept in a medical institution. He has already been heard three times by the police and will be heard again “as soon as his condition allows”. "Everything suggests that he chose his victims at random" and acted alone, said Inspector Omholt, describing the man as "not very sociable in life and on the internet".
According to the police, he would have thought about his attack "a few days" before.
Police also revealed the identities of those who died: Andréa Meyer, 52, Hanne Merethe Englund, 56, Liv Berit Borge, 75, Gunnar Erling Sauve, 75 and Gun Marith Madsen, 78.
Three injured, who have not been identified, have been released from the hospital since the attack.
World
Attack in Norway: What we know about the suspect in the archery killings
World
Attack in Norway: The thesis of the mental "illness" of the aggressor favored by the police
Terrorism
Attack
Norway
World