The Norwegian right-wing extremist who admits having opened fire in August 2019 in a mosque near Oslo after killing his half-sister, pleaded not guilty on Thursday the first day of his trial.
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Appearing in a dark suit on a white shirt, hanging lock and short hair on the side, Philip Manshaus, 22, is on trial for " homicide " and " terrorist act " at the court in Asker and Baerum, near the Norwegian capital. Before taking his place, he addressed with his hand an " OK " sign , which in certain circles has become a white supremacist symbol.
On August 10, 2019, wearing a bullet-proof vest and a helmet equipped with a camera, Manshaus had opened fire at the Al-Noor Islamic Center in Baerum, without causing any serious injuries, before being subdued by of the faithful who were preparing the Muslim Eid festival inside the building. It was " intended to kill as many Muslims as possible, " says the indictment. After his arrest, the body of his 17-year-old half-sister, of Chinese origin, was found at the family home. Adopted by the wife of Manshaus' father, Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen was killed by four bullets, three in the head and one in the chest.
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Manshaus acknowledges the facts but dismisses the charges, citing a form of " state of necessity ". According to the Norwegian media, he showed no remorse in the courtroom but, on the contrary, expressed his regret at having " not been able to inflict more damage ". According to the prosecution, Manshaus was inspired by the attack on Christchurch in New Zealand in March 2019, during which Brenton Tarrant had killed 51 people while shooting against two mosques.
During a previous court hearing to extend his detention, he made a Nazi salute to the press. His trial is scheduled to last until May 26. The facts are punishable by 21 years in prison, but the prosecution has not ruled out asking for a security detention sentence that would keep him behind bars as long as he is considered to be a danger to society.
On July 22, 2011, another right-wing extremist, Anders Behring Breivik, killed 77 people in Norway by detonating a bomb near the government seat in Oslo, then by opening fire on a Labor Youth rally on the island. from Utøya. He is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence, which can be extended indefinitely.
