On Thursday afternoon, a 93-year-old woman was struck with a wooden baton near a tennis court in the Gommerud area of Rykkinn, Bærum, marking the latest in a series of attacks on elderly women that have shaken communities across the Oslo region.
Police say the assault is part of a pattern linking four incidents: two in Bærum, one in Asker, and an attempted rape in Oslo on April 15. The suspect, a man in his twenties, was apprehended Saturday afternoon near the Rykkinn shopping center after a coordinated search involving patrol units, and helicopters. Authorities confirmed he used mobile phone data to track his movements, which placed him at each crime scene.
Investigators describe the suspect as under 175 cm tall, slim or slight build, dark-skinned, and fluent in Norwegian. He was seen wearing dark clothing and a hood or similar head covering during the attacks. Police say he acted alone and has a prior record for similar offenses dating back to 2025, including incidents involving stones and sticks.
In at least two of the recent attacks, the assailant used a baton-like object, likely a stick, to strike victims. The oldest victim, a 93-year-old, was attacked near the Gommerud underpass. An 82-year-old woman was assaulted in the same area on March 28, and a woman in her seventies was attacked in Hyggen, Asker, on Monday evening.
The incident in Oslo involved a younger woman who resisted the attack; police classify it as an attempted rape, not a completed act. Prosecutor Ellen Alvilde Arge confirmed the investigation treats all incidents as sexually motivated, though she declined to elaborate on the basis for that conclusion.
Police increased patrols in Rykkinn following Friday evening reports of a man acting aggressively with a stick. Helicopters and ground units were deployed after the description matched the suspect profile. Officials said the heightened presence aims to reassure residents shaken by the attacks.
The suspect, a Norwegian citizen registered in Oslo, will appear before a judge on Sunday or Monday for a detention hearing. He has been assigned legal counsel and faces charges of aggravated bodily harm in at least two cases, with a third charge pending.
This case echoes concerns from last year when a series of similar assaults on older women in Lillestrøm prompted a regional police alert, though no arrest was made at that time.
How did police locate the suspect?
Investigators used mobile phone data to track the suspect’s movements, confirming his phone was active at each of the four crime scenes before his arrest near Rykkinn shopping center.
What charges is the suspect facing?
He is currently charged with aggravated bodily harm in at least two incidents and faces a third charge related to the same offense. Additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.
Is there a connection between the attacks?
Yes, police believe the same individual is responsible for three assaults in Asker and Bærum and an attempted rape in Oslo, based on behavioral patterns, witness descriptions, and digital evidence.