A policeman shot and killed a woman teacher outside a school in the northern Norwegian town of Tromsoe and then shot himself in what appeared to be a quarrel between former lovers, police said today.
Police had initially said both the man and the woman had died but later said the man was in a critical condition in hospital.
"This was an experienced public servant with a long record of service," Tromsoe Police Chief Truls Fyhn told a news conference broadcast by NRK radio. He did not release the man's name or position in the police force.
The man and his victim, who was a teacher in training, had lived together earlier, police said.
"The background to the killing is presumed to be their relationship which broke up in recent weeks," he said, adding police were investigating whether the man had used his service weapon.
Police said the man's injuries were life threatening.
The shooting took place today as children were arriving for school in the Arctic town.