At least five people were killed and others injured by a man using a bow and arrows to carry out attacks in the Norwegian town of Kongsberg on Wednesday, police said.

Local media reported that the attacker opened fire in a Coop Extra supermarket on the western side of the town, after which residents were ordered to stay indoors and large areas were cordoned off. 

Police said that the attacks took place over “a large area” and encompassed “several crime scenes” across the town, a municipality of around 28,000 people approximately 10 miles from Oslo in southeastern Norway.

According to police, the suspect walked around downtown Kongsberg shooting arrows. 

Kongsberg’s police chief said there was “a confrontation” between officers and the assailant, but he did not elaborate. 

Two other people were wounded and hospitalised in intensive care, including an officer who was off duty and inside the shop where the attack took place, police said.

“Several people have been injured and several are dead,” police chief Oeyvind Aas said. He declined to comment on the number of casualties, but local broadcaster NRK put the death toll at five. 

Acting Prime Minister Erna Solberg described the attack as “gruesome” and said it was too early to speculate on a motive. She told a news conference on Wednesday night that police were in control of the situation.

The prime minister-designate, Jonas Gahr Stoere, who is expected to take office on Thursday, called the assault “a cruel and brutal act” in comments to Norwegian news agency NTB.

The wounded were taken to hospital, but police have not yet released details about their condition.

“The reports coming from Kongsberg tonight are horrifying,” Ms Solberg told a news conference.

“I understand that many people are afraid, but it’s important to emphasise that the police are now in control.”