– I wasn’t afraid, but my only fear was that he would escape and cause more damage to his wife or me. This is how Mahrous Dib Alkhatib remembers and tells about the horrible thing that happened in the spring of 2022 in the otherwise peaceful village of Norefjord in Nore og Uvdal. In 2013, the 42-year-old escaped from war and misery in Syria together with his wife and their four children, three girls and one boy. First the family fled to Lebanon. In 2021, they sought their fortune in Norway and wesle Rødberg in Nore og Uvdal. Visiting ban after violence in close relationships It is Friday morning, May 20, one year after they made a red tape of themselves. The children have been sent off to school. Mahrous and his wife are, as usual, on their way to a Norwegian course. – We had taken the bus to school. About 200, 300 meters away from the bus stop, I suddenly hear someone screaming. I turn and see a person attacking a woman with a knife. Then I see the man stab her, says Mahrous. The perpetrator (50), who is of Syrian origin, had at the time had a restraining order against his wife for several months following violence in close relationships. Until the incident on 20 May, he had not broken the restraining order. According to the indictment, the woman was stabbed three times, in the chest and in the arm. It resulted, among other things, in a punctured lung. Was stabbed himself Mahrous says he didn’t think, he just ran towards them on instinct to intervene. To protect the woman who was about to be stabbed to death in the open street. – This is something I have learned in my Arab culture – when we see someone who needs help, we must help without hesitation. He says that he tried to deprive the perpetrator of the knife. To prevent further damage, he throws the attacker to the ground as the struggle for the stabbing continues. Mahrous Dib Alkhatib still has a scar after he overpowered the man who is now accused of stabbing his wife. Photo: Private The woman gets away and starts calling for help. In the basketball game, Mahrous himself is stabbed in the arm. The perpetrator’s hands and feet were taped Firefighter Petter Morten Alfredsen, who is trained in PLIVO, was sitting on a nearby bench eating breakfast when he heard the noise. He immediately ran over and saw the three people. – One man was sitting on top of another, and there was blood in the road. And there was a knife in the picture, Alfredsen told news. The man sitting on top of the perpetrator was Mahrous. He had then managed to take the knife from him. Alfredsen and other people came running. They soon gained power over the perpetrator inside a bus shelter. He was acting out and they had to use their physics to keep him under control. They taped his hands and feet until the fire department arrived. Saw the blood flowing from the arm – After people had control of him, I see blood flowing from my arm, says Mahrous, adding that he tried to stop the bleeding as best he could. Mahrous Dib Alkhatib’s arm received a large bruise after the basketball attack. Photo: Private – But at the time I was only thinking about helping the woman and saving her life. Both were transported in separate ambulance helicopters to hospital. The woman had life-threatening injuries. – It is very difficult to see someone being stabbed in front of you, with the blood flowing. It is very difficult to see blood, Mahrous says quietly before adding: – I am no hero, but I would do it again. Helped, without hesitation. Accused of attempted murder The woman received treatment at the hospital, and was soon out of danger. The husband was initially charged with bodily harm, but the police gradually increased the charges. He has been in custody since 21 May 2022. On Monday 22 January, the trial begins against the man who is accused of attempted murder of his wife. Buskerud district court has set aside five days for the criminal case in the courthouse in Drammen. Mahrous says today he feels a mixture of fear and concern. He explains: – This despite the fact that I am aware that he is in prison. But one day he will be released and perhaps seek revenge against me or the family when I prevented him from achieving his goal of killing his wife. Mahrous will not be portrayed as a hero. – No, I am no hero, Mahrous repeats, but I have contributed in a humane way, with help, to save the life of a woman.
ttn-69
– I am not a hero – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
