Swimming coach attack leaves rival needing emergency treatment

Police are investigating an attack in which a KR swimming coach allegedly assaulted a Grótta swimming coach, who required treatment at an emergency department, mbl.is reported. Hjördís Sigurbjartsdóttir, deputy chief of police, said the two men were in their thirties.

The attack took place outside the headquarters of the Icelandic Sports Association on Engjavegur. The KR coach is believed to have threatened the Grótta coach with a knife before striking him repeatedly.

A 19-year-old cyclist intervened and pulled the two coaches apart. The injured coach then ran away, followed by the attacker.

Police were alerted, but the KR coach drove away and ignored orders to stop. Officers eventually had to ram his car to halt it.

Police said they could not provide information about the motive because the investigation was ongoing.

Willum Þór Þórsson, president of the Icelandic Sports Association, described the incident as a tragedy. KR chair Þórhildur Garðarsdóttir said the club was deeply distressed, while Grótta issued a statement expressing the same reaction.