Norwegian prosecutors seek 21-year sentence for mosque shooter

Norwegian prosecutors on Wednesday requested a 21-year jail sentence for a far-right extremist who admitted to opening fire in a mosque near Oslo after killing his step-sister.

Philip Manshaus, 22, is accused of murder and committing an act of terror.

"He seems likely to be dangerous for a very long time," prosecutor Johan Overberg told a court outside Oslo in his closing statement

Defence lawyer Unni Fries in turn argued that Manshaus should be acquitted, citing reasonable doubts about her client's sanity.

Manshaus was arrested on August 10, 2019 after opening fire in the Al-Noor mosque in the affluent Oslo suburb of Baerum while wearing a bullet-proof vest and a helmet with a camera strapped to it.

Just three worshippers were in the mosque at the time and there were no serious injuries as a 65-year-old man overpowered Manshaus.

The body of his 17-year-old step-sister was later found in their home.

Adopted from China by his father's girlfriend, Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen was killed by four bullets, police said.

Norway does not have a life sentence, but the custodial sentence requested can be extended indefinitely as long as the person is considered a threat to society.

In his indictment, Overberg argued that the murder of Manshaus' step-sister was a "planned execution" with a "racist motive".

In the mosque, where worshippers were preparing for Eid, Manshaus "wanted to kill as many Muslims as possible," the prosecutor added, stressing that the accused had not shown any remorse.

Manshaus has admitted to the facts of the case but pleaded not guilty, claiming his actions came out of "necessity," namely to ensure the "survival of the white race."

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Fries argued that her client, against his own objections, should not be held responsible for his actions, since his "rather paranoid worldview" and actions show that he might not have been of sound mind.

She said his belief that Europe was under threat from "Muslims, Jews, gender equality, homosexuals and the authorities," and that he tried to carry out his act without any weapons training showed that he was out of touch with reality.

"If the court finds that he is not culpable, he can be sentenced to forced psychiatric care," she said.

During the trial three experts testified that he was sane and criminally responsible.

Manshaus has said he was inspired by the attacks in Christchurch in New Zealand in March 2019, when Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people in shootings at two mosques.

Tarrant in turn has said he was inspired by Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik, who in July 2011 killed 77 people in a truck bomb blast near government offices in Oslo and a shooting spree at a Labour Party youth camp on the island of Utoya.

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