News Alert, Murder | Homicide alert: The woman may be an accidental victim

Police prosecutor Vanja Bruvoll warned the public against speculating about the death in Arendal, and to stick to the factual information they receive from the police.

– There are many rumours. It is an important message to the citizens. It is to stick to the factual information they get from the police and not to the information they may hear around, she said during the press conference in Arendal on Wednesday afternoon.

The police opened a homicide investigation after the preliminary autopsy report and other information indicated that the woman was killed.

Police say they do not rule out that the woman was an accidental victim. They do not want to say exactly where they believe the crime took place.

– We have very little basis to say anything about the perpetrator, said chief of staff Vidar Arnesen at the press conference.

The murder investigation was first announced in this press release from the police on Wednesday afternoon. The following was stated there:

At 09.27 on Tuesday morning, the police received a report from AMK about an injured person at Boots pharmacy in Arendal. She was pronounced dead a short time later.

– This is a terrible tragedy. Our focus now is to take care of those affected, relatives and employees, CEO Kathrine Mehlin of Boots’ pharmacy has previously stated in a press release.

Read also: Woman declared dead in Arendal – the entire street blocked off

Large police teams were dispatched to the incident and the case has since been investigated with all available resources to clarify whether we are facing an accident or a criminal offence, and to secure any traces and evidence related to the incident.

Employee at the pharmacy

The police’s investigations show that the woman was probably killed outside the Boots pharmacy in the center of Arendal at 09:00 on Tuesday morning. Life-saving first aid was attempted inside the pharmacy, but unfortunately life could not be saved.

– No people are currently suspected or charged in the case. The perpetrator is still unknown to the police. Based on preliminary information, it cannot be ruled out that the deceased is an accidental victim. The police are working with full force to clarify this, says Bruvoll.

The murdered woman was employed at the Boots pharmacy in the center of Arendal. The next of kin have been notified, but currently do not want the woman’s identity to be made public.

– Several witness interviews have been carried out, and the police have obtained video material which is now being reviewed, at the same time that the police are going through the technical investigations that were carried out at the scene. At the present time, we cannot comment on questions about any findings or seizures in the case, says Bruvoll.

Emergency preparedness raised

Chief of staff Vidar Arnesen in the Agder police district says that the police district has now raised the alert.

– At the present time, we do not know who the perpetrator is or what motives the perpetrator had. Therefore, we also have limited grounds for assessing the danger to the public. Agder police district has chosen to raise the level of preparedness to ensure a faster response capability in Agder police district. This means that the police are present with more civilian and uniformed personnel in Agder and Arendal, says Arnesen.

– We ask the population to follow along and have a low threshold for contacting the police. We fully understand that this is a demanding situation. The case naturally has the highest priority for the police and is being investigated with all available resources, says Arnesen.