Kongsberg mayor reflects on memorial for victims of mass shooting three years later

Five people were brutally taken from us that evening,” says Line Spiten, the mayor of Kongsberg, reflecting on one of the darkest days in the city’s history three years ago, when a mass shooting occurred.

The mayor held a commemoration at a memorial site for the victims, with five people killed and three injured after a man attacked residents with a bow and knife. On this day, the memorial dedicated to the victims who lost their lives on October 13, 2021, was officially opened along Hyttegata, the street where the attacks began.

“I believe the time was right to establish this place as a means to find closure,” Spiten explains. “It serves as a space for reflection.” Alongside the bereaved, Spiten attended a subdued ceremony where candles were lit and flowers laid. “This is a place for relatives and the Kongsberg community to come together for contemplation,” she adds.

In previous years, the day has been marked, but now, families and residents have a permanent location to remember those lost. A stone featuring a plaque with the victims’ names has been erected.

“I’m very pleased to hear that the relatives appreciate the memorial’s location,” Spiten noted.

On October 13, 2021, the perpetrator, Espen Andersen Bråthen, killed five individuals and injured several others. He was sentenced to compulsory mental health care. In January, he requested release, claiming he had recovered, a statement the courts disputed. The court ruled against his release.

Spiten was not yet mayor during the tragic events three years ago and remarked, “It’s challenging to put into words, as it was a horrific incident that shook the entire community.” She hopes the memorial can aid in healing from the trauma that remains a part of Kongsberg’s story. “People return to their daily lives, which is incredibly important, but it’s an event that stays with them,” Spiten concludes.