Norway has seen a troubling start to 2024, with a series of murders highlighting a disturbing trend.

Over half of the victims this year were killed by someone they had a close relationship with.

Experts, like violence researcher Vibeke Ottesen, emphasize that while Norway has relatively few murders, the high proportion of family-related killings is notable.

This is partly due to the low number of murders involving young men, a contrast to trends in neighboring Sweden.

In January alone, multiple cases shocked the nation, including a father in Nes who killed his two daughters and infant grandchild.

Ottesen points out that perpetrators in such cases are often in severe personal crises, such as financial struggles or relationship breakdowns.

She stresses the importance of community support to help those in crisis before tragedy strikes.

Despite the rise in cases, some regions, like Møre og Romsdal and Troms, reported only one murder each in 2024.