The man who was shot and killed by the police in Oslo on Tuesday morning, was subject to mental health care and out on a short leave.
In December last year, he was sentenced to compulsory mental health care after an attempted murder at Grünerløkka in 2019. The deceased 33-year-old has now been charged again – this time for four attempted murders.
The police’s main hypothesis is that he was mentally ill this time as well.
– There was absolutely nothing wrong with that guy. He needed help and was lonely, says a childhood friend, who does not want to show up by name.
The two became known when the 33-year-old moved to Drammen as an asylum seeker many years ago.
Visit to prison
The childhood friend does not remember exactly when it was, but knows that the friend was under ten years old when they first met.
– He needed help. He has had no parents and no role models.
Roar, who had an informal caring role for the 33-year-old, says he came into contact with the knife man in 2004.
– MEMORIAL MOMENT: On Tuesday night, around 50 people showed up at Bislett to remember the deceased. The friends laid down flowers and lit candles. Photo: Frode Sunde / TV 2
–
– He had no one in Drammen, and came from a refugee reception center. We took some care of him, but could not take care of him 24 hours a day, so he slipped a little out of us. After he came to Oslo, I have not had much contact with him, says Roar, and adds that his sons visited him both in a treatment institution and in prison.
According to Roar, it must have been the knife man’s aunt who took him with him from Chechnya, against his will. His father and brother were killed by Chechen authorities. This must have affected him, says Roar.
The 33-year-old was a Russian citizen, born in Grozny, Chechnya.
– He was an extremely social and sociable boy. Gentle and helpful. He washed floors, windows, cars and boats, and never wanted anything paid, he says.
Roar was told by his eldest son what had happened. He was not surprised.
– It was really as expected, but fortunately he did not do anything. In Kongsberg, things went much worse, says Roar.
– Roar at the scene Tuesday night. Around 50 were gathered at Bislett, where the man was shot after threatening random people and the police with a knife. A police officer was slightly injured. Photo: Odd Arne Hartvigsen / TV 2
–
– Very talented
Eventually, the now deceased 33-year-old moved from Drammen to Oslo. In recent years, therefore, contact with the childhood friend from Drammen has diminished.
– He was successful there as an actor, and was very talented.
During the same period that the man began to notice himself as a great acting talent, he took higher education at a school in Oslo.
However, he never completed the educational course.
“The education was interrupted due to difficulties in connection with behavior that the school could not accept”, it is stated in the verdict that the man received in Oslo District Court in December last year, where he was sentenced to compulsory mental health care.
– I learned through mutual acquaintances that he ended up in the film industry and the environment there, says the childhood friend.
TV 2 has been in contact with several people who knew the 33-year-old during this time period. They do not want to be interviewed.
Here he is arrested after the attempted murder in 2019:
–
The late 33-year-old has had minor roles in several star-studded recordings. He has also played with actors who are today considered to be among Norway’s foremost.
– There was probably a lot of partying and such. I think it was very overwhelming for him. It’s probably not always as easy when you come from poor conditions.
– How could this happen?
One who knew the former actor well is Ahmed Yildrim. For five years he was the boxing coach for the 33-year-old. The two became famous in 2010.
– Then I realized that he was having a bit of a hard time. He was shy and had a hard time talking about it, says Yildrim.
The boxing coach has not seen the man for the past five years, and was therefore shocked when he heard the news of what had happened.
– It’s absolutely awful. It’s like that you do not believe in it.
– TRAINER: Ahmed Yildrin remembers a polite young man from boxing training. Photo: Petter Sørum-Johansen / TV 2
–
Like his childhood friend from Drammen, Yildrim describes a warm person. He struggles to recognize the young man in his actions.
– He was a very smiling, gentle boy. Always polite. He is a golden boy, says the boxing coach.
– So how could this happen?
– Yes, how could that happen. That is a good question, says Yildrim.
Roar, who knows the man from the time in Drammen, describes the 33-year-old as a wrestling talent.
“Never get up”
The forensic psychiatrists who assessed the man’s state of health in connection with the previous verdict, wrote in their expert report that it seems as if he had a “serious malfunction” in connection with his leaving school.
After finishing school, according to the experts, he never managed to “get back on his feet, despite the fact that the school has been supportive and he has sought professional help”.
“He has also in a way been perceived as resourceful, which may have meant that he has been perceived as ‘fresher’ than he actually has been,” the judgment from 2019 states.
– A cry for help
The childhood friend from Drammen is completely convinced that the 33-year-old did not understand what he was doing when he threatened several people with a knife at Bislett on Tuesday morning.
– He was actually a very nice boy. He did not do this to hurt anyone. It is an attempt to get help in one way or another.
Police Inspector Grete Lien Metlid confirmed at the police press conference on Tuesday afternoon that the man was under mental health care, and that he was released on short-term leave on Monday this week.
It surprises the childhood friend.
– It came as a bomb to me when I got a call about this early today. I do not understand why he was out on the street now.
–
