The search continues for the suspect in the Sunday night shooting death of a man in Bergen, Norway, police said Tuesday.
The victim, an Afghan national who arrived in Norway in 2021, was shot outside his home in Arna, a district of Bergen. Police have launched a manhunt but have not yet made any arrests.
“The perpetrator is still at large,” police attorney Inger Lise Høyland told a press conference Tuesday. “We cannot rule out that more than one person may be involved.”
Kripos, Norway’s national criminal investigation service, and the Police Security Service (PST) are assisting the local police district with the investigation.
Høyland stated that police currently have no suspects but are pursuing several lines of inquiry. The investigation is focusing on whether the shooting was targeted.
“The manner in which the murder occurred suggests it was directed at the deceased,” Høyland said.
Police have received over 40 tips from the public and are urging anyone who was in the Arna area between 8:30 PM and midnight on Sunday to come forward with information.
Authorities cautioned against relying on descriptions of the suspect circulating in the media. “We do not want the public to fixate on the description that has been given,” Høyland said. “This person may have changed clothes and may have moved differently than reported. There may also be other people involved.”
The victim had previously lived in the residence where he was shot, alongside his wife, who sustained minor injuries. She is expected to be interviewed by police on Tuesday.
Police are investigating the man’s background, including his time in the Afghan military before fleeing to Norway following the Taliban takeover in 2021.
“The man’s background from Afghanistan is naturally of interest to us. But we are also looking at whether the murder is linked to the deceased’s private life here at home,” Høyland said.
The investigation is being treated as a homicide, and police are not currently believed the public is at risk.
Neighbors have described the scene as chaotic. Chris André Isager, a neighbor, told NRK he heard noise and went outside to investigate, discovering the man lying on the ground. He immediately called emergency services.
“This is one of the worst things I have ever experienced. I don’t wish this on anyone,” Isager said.
The incident has caused concern among the Afghan community in Bergen. Zakia Mohammadi, a friend of the victim, described him as a caring and kind person who had sought a better life in Norway.
“He told me that he was in the military in Afghanistan and fled to Norway in 2021 when the Taliban took over,” Mohammadi said. “But this was not something we talked about often. Many will try to forget what they have experienced in Afghanistan.”
Police are urging anyone with information to contact them, emphasizing that even seemingly insignificant details could be helpful.
The victim is undergoing an autopsy at Haukeland University Hospital. Police have not yet released details regarding the cause of death.
