Two people were killed and eight others were taken to hospital after a shooting near the London Pub, which describes itself as “the largest gay and lesbian venue in Oslo” on its website.
At 1:14 a.m. local time, police received numerous calls about the shooting and arrived at the scene a few minutes later. Police said they arrested the man three minutes after his arrival.
Prosecutor Christian Hatlo told reporters in Oslo on Saturday that the terror suspect, originally from Iran, was a Norwegian citizen and “known to the police,” but had so far received only “minor convictions.”
Norway’s internal intelligence service said it was trying to find out if more violence was planned after the shooting. The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) said in a tweet on Saturday that it had been “informed of the shooting in Oslo on Saturday”.
“We are now passing all the relevant information to the Oslo police and trying to find out if more acts of violence are planned. We have no indication at this time,” PST said.
Hatlo said police charged the suspect with “murder, attempted murder and terrorist acts.”
According to him, the terrorist charge was based on a “general assessment” of the number of injured and dead, the number of crime scenes and the intention of the accused to “create serious fear in the population.”
During a press conference, police tried to question the suspect, but have not been able to do so, Hatlo said. The suspect was taken to a police station and police told CNN that there were no other suspects at the moment.
As for the charges, Hatlo said the authorities would “see what the investigation shows.”
According to police, the suspect was armed with two weapons during the shooting. As the investigation continues, it has not been confirmed what weapons he used.
When police arrived, there were injured inside and outside the bar. “The scene was chaotic, it was a hot evening and there were a lot of people outside, so people were running everywhere,” police told CNN.
Three of the eight people hospitalized are in critical condition. Another 14 victims received minor injuries.
In a statement posted on Facebook after the shooting, the London Pub denounced the incident as “absolutely horrible and pure evil.” The bar said all its employees were safe and offered condolences to the victims and their families.
“We will follow the recommendations of the police and take care of each other. We have warm thoughts and love for the relatives, the injured and the victims,” said Inger Kristin Haugsevje, head of the Oslo Pride, and the head of the Gender and Sexual Diversity Association. Inge Alexander Gjestvang, in a joint statement.
“Soon we will be proud and see you again, but today we will celebrate and share our pride at home.”
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also expressed his condolences to the victims, calling the shooting a “brutal and deeply devastating attack on innocent people.”
“My thoughts go to the victims and their relatives,” Støre said on Facebook. “We still don’t know what is behind this horrible act, but I want to tell a strange society that is now scared and in mourning that we are all with you.”
Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament Masoud Garakhkhani also expressed condolences.
“It could be so cruel and horrible. People were in the city for a celebration of diversity and love,” Gharahkhani said. “I also see what kind of hateful expressions there are when I repeatedly mention the strange diversity on social media. It’s sad and unacceptable.”
