Incident Summary:

01/17/2019: An assailant stabbed a civilian at a convenience store in Oslo, Ostlandet, Norway. One civilian was injured in the attack. The assailant, a Russian national, was arrested and claimed responsibility for the incident, telling police that the attack was meant to be part of a larger terrorist attack.

GTD ID:
201901180023

When:
2019-01-17

Country:
Norway

Region:
Western Europe

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Oslo

City:
Oslo

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Not Applicable
Specific Description Civilian
Nationality of Target Norway
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Melee Knife or Other Sharp Object
Weapon Details
A knife was used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Lack of Intentionality
Additional Information There is doubt that this incident meets terrorism-related criteria. Sources noted that the assailant was possibly suffering from schizophrenia. Sources also noted that the assailant appeared to target the victim "at random."
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Unknown Yes (Confirmed: Unknown; Mode: Personal claim)
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 1
Number of Captured Perpetrators 1
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 1 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 1
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Norway probes stabbing attack in Oslo as suspected terrorism," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, January 18, 2019.
"Oslo - Norway probes knife attack as possibly 'terror-related'," AFP (North European Service), January 18, 2019.
"Norwegian Report: Russian Suspect in Oslo Supermarket Stabbing Changes Story, Denies Terror Motive," NRK Online, January 22, 2019.