Terrorism charges for man who fatally shot two people and injured at least 21 others outside one of Norway’s largest queer venues in Oslo.
A 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorist acts after opening fire in the centre of Norway’s capital, Oslo.
Two people were killed and 21 injured in the overnight attack, which began hours before the city’s LGBTQ community was due to celebrate its annual Pride parade.
Reuters report the shooter embarked on a terrifying rampage inside a popular gay bar, the London Pub, which then expanded to the surrounding streets.
There was gunfire at about 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Saturday, in three locations including the gay bar.
This night, two people were killed and 14 injured in a shooting at a gay club in #Oslo. Police called the incident a terrorist attack. pic.twitter.com/J1ygaF79VK
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 25, 2022
“Many people were crying and screaming, the injured were screaming, people were distressed and scared – very, very scared,” said Marcus Nybakken, 46, who had left the London Pub shortly before the shooting and returned later to help.
“My first thought was that Pride was the target, so that’s frightening.”
Oslo’s annual Pride parade was due to be held on Saturday, but has been cancelled following police advice.
BREAKING:
Norway investigates a possible terror attack after a man started shooting in front of the city’s largest gay pub “London Pub” last night.
2 dead, 14 wounded.
Today’s Oslo Gay Pride parade has been cancelled.
The suspect is a refugee from Iran pic.twitter.com/grjttJI0vl
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 25, 2022
“We will soon be proud and visible again, but today, we will share our Pride celebrations from home,” a statement on the Oslo Pride website said.
“There is reason to think that this may be a hate crime,” police said in a press conference later on Saturday.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere called it a “terrible and deeply shocking attack on innocent people”.
Our thoughts and solidarity with the victims of this evil attack and the LGBTQI+ community in Norway in the dark days ahead.
This is no time for complacency. Hate is on the rise and looms over our communities. We need political leadership to root it out. https://t.co/n6bIEx2gX5
— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) June 25, 2022
Todays celebrations were supposed to mark – 50 years since homisexuality no longer got criminalized in Norway … a little over an hour ago there was a shooting outside of a famous gay bar in oslo..this is why we need pride #Oslo #PrideMonth
— nino (@Ninokoo1) June 25, 2022