Oslo imam seriously wounded in axe attack

OSLO: The imam of Oslo's main mosque was recuperating in hospital on Tuesday after a masked assailant repeatedly hacked him with a small axe in the centre of the Norwegian capital, a report said.

Nehma Ali Shah was attacked as he returned home from the Central Jamaat Ahle Sunnat mosque late on Monday, the Aftenposten daily reported.

The religious leader, who suffered wounds to his face and hands, was in a stable condition after undergoing an operation, it said.

The police said they would hold a press conference on the attack later on Tuesday.

On their Twitter account, the police said that a stabbed man had been taken to hospital with serious injuries and that numerous units were hunting for the attacker.