Norway mosque shooting: how unarmed 65-year-old Mohammad Rafiq tackled the gunman and averted tragedy
- Ex-Pakistani military officer threw suspect to the ground and disarmed him, then pinned him down with help from two others
- Rafiq suffered injuries on his head, hand and eye while subduing attacker
A 65-year-old former Pakistani military officer is being credited with thwarting an attack at a mosque in Norway, after he tackled a heavily armed gunman who allegedly stormed into the house of worship with the intention of carrying out a mass shooting motivated by hatred of Muslims.
Mohammad Rafiq said he threw the suspect to the ground after the gunman entered the al-Noor Islamic Centre in Baerum near the Norwegian capital of Oslo on Saturday, before the two other men inside the mosque rushed to help him pin down the man.
Rafiq’s quick action helped avert an attack that brought back painful memories of the Christchurch shootings in New Zealand earlier this year, when a gunman attacked two mosques and killed 51 people during Friday prayers.
“There is no doubt that the swift and firm response from the persons inside the mosque stopped the aggressor,” acting Police Station Chief Rune Skjold said in a statement. “These persons showed great courage.”
The attempted attack on al-Noor Islamic Centre happened a day before Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays on the Islamic calendar marking the end of the haj pilgrimage.