Assault investigation underway after Runar Magnussen attacked in Vikersund

Last Monday, Runar Magnussen, 55, was assaulted outside a grocery store in Vikersund while walking his dog. The incident was filmed by witnesses and circulated online over the weekend. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with assault, and appeared in court today for a detention hearing in Buskerud District Court. The suspect has admitted to striking Magnussen and has been ordered to be held in custody for four weeks.

Magnussen claims that he approached a group of three teenagers to ask them to calm down, as their behavior was unsettling for other customers leaving the store. He dismissed the suspect’s allegations of racism, stating that it was the suspect who used a racial slur first. Magnussen emphasized that this situation stems not from racism, but from gang-related behavior that has been ongoing for at least two years.

The suspect’s attorney, Tom Barth-Hofstad, mentioned that his client claimed to have endured racist slurs prior to the attack, and is calling for a police investigation into those allegations. Prosecutor Eva Skau confirmed that the police will look into these claims as part of their investigation. The 18-year-old has a history with law enforcement, having been involved in multiple violent incidents.

The defense attorney indicated that the suspect feels remorse for his violent reaction towards Magnussen, acknowledging that he crossed a line. Magnussen expressed that he feels scared following the incident, despite not suffering lasting physical harm. He noted that people should not feel afraid to exit a store due to the presence of gangs loitering in public spaces.