Woman stabbed in attack by man in Gravdal, Norway while cycling with son

A woman in her 40s was cycling with her son on Saturday evening when she was attacked by a man in his 20s, who chased her with a knife and stabbed her in the back. Authorities believe she was a random target. The attacker was apprehended later that night and is now charged with aggravated bodily harm.

Reports indicate that this same individual had been arrested just three days prior for brandishing a knife in public at Gravdal. According to police station chief Ketil Finstad-Steira, the suspect was taken for medical evaluation and subsequently placed in the healthcare system, with no further involvement from the police thereafter.

Finstad-Steira noted that once health services assume control of patients, the police are not alerted when they are deemed fit for reintegration into society. The suspect is once again receiving care, and police will be notified this time if he is released.

The significant difference this time is that the man harmed someone, whereas his previous arrest only involved him carrying a knife without any direct threat to others. The police acknowledged they could not have done anything differently to prevent Saturday’s incident, stating they were unaware of his return to the area, making it impossible to monitor his actions.

The police are currently investigating the stabbing and hope to complete all investigative steps by next week. The woman who was stabbed, now discharged from the hospital, expressed her sorrow over how long it took for someone to recognize the situation’s seriousness. She wished to remain anonymous and described the incident as tragic.