2022 Oslo shootings | |
---|---|
![]() The police blockade at the location where the shootings took place | |
Location | Oslo, Norway |
Coordinates | 59°54′55″N 10°44′26″E / 59.91528°N 10.74056°ECoordinates: 59°54′55″N 10°44′26″E / 59.91528°N 10.74056°E |
Date | 25 June 2022 (CEST UTC+02:00) |
Attack type | Mass shooting |
Weapons | automatic weapon, and other unidentified small arms [1] |
Deaths | 2 |
Injured | 21 |
Motive |
|
Accused | Zaniar Matapour |
Charges |
On 25 June 2022, two people were killed and 21 more were injured in a mass shooting at three sites in Oslo, Norway. The shootings are believed by the police to have targeted Oslo Pride, the local LGBT pride event hosted by the Oslo branch of the Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity. The police arrested Zaniar Matapour, a naturalised Iranian man. He has been charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorism. The shootings are being treated by the police as acts of Islamic terrorism.[3] The shootings were the first mass shooting with a firearm in Norway since the 2011 Utøya attack.
Shootings
The shootings took place at locations associated with Oslo Pride, the local LGBT pride event hosted by the Oslo branch of the Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity, the night before the planned Pride parade in Oslo. The first shooting occurred at London Pub, a popular gay bar and nightclub. According to one witness, the perpetrator shouted "Allahu Akbar" as he started shooting.[4] The perpetrator then moved to two more nearby locations, including the bar Per på hjørnet and a takeaway. Two people were killed and 21 more were injured, ten of whom were critically injured while the other 11 were slightly injured.[5][6][1][7] Police were called at 1:15 a.m. local time, and arrived minutes later.[7] The suspect was detained five minutes after the attacks.[8] Eighty to 100 people hid in the pub's basement during the attack,[3] and wounded people were lying both inside and outside the bar with the police describing the scene as "chaotic".[7]
According to Eskil Pedersen, many of those present in London Pub, including himself, were also on Utøya during the shooting by domestic terrorist Anders Behring Breivik.[9]
Suspect
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Norwegian Iranian Zaniar Matapour, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, and acts of terrorism.[7][2][10]
At a press conference on 25 June, the police said that they believe the attack could be motivated by anti-LGBT hate, and be intended to target Oslo Pride.[11][12][13][14] Norway has seen sustained attacks against the LGBT community and the Pride event from anti-LGBT extremists on social media.[15] The police later confirmed that they had known of the suspect since 2015, believing that he had been radicalised into Islamic extremism.[2]
Matapour had an extensive criminal background from drug and assault offenses, but had only received "minor convictions" prior to the attack, according to a Norwegian prosecutor.[10][7] His mother said that he had previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.[16]
Matapour's lawyer John Christian Elden said they have suspended the interrogations because Matapour is afraid that the police are manipulating it.[17] Elden told Aftenposten that Matapour is afraid that the police will switch the recorded tapes and demands that everything must be written down.[18] Elden confirmed that Matapour will be interrogated on Sunday morning,[19] though it was later confirmed that he refused to appear for questioning, adding an additional demand – that his interrogation be made public in its entirety.[20]
According to the public broadcaster NRK, Matapour has been in contact with Arfan Bhatti, an Islamist extremist with several violent convictions. On 14 June, Bhatti, who has also been represented by Elden in the past, posted a burning rainbow flag with a caption calling for the killing of gays on Facebook.[21] Bhatti is a leading figure in Profetens Ummah, which has recruited people for ISIS.[22] Verdens Gang reported that Matapour had been stopped by police in April when he was in the same car as Bhatti.[23]
Aftermath
The pride parade and related events scheduled to be held in Oslo were cancelled after the shooting, following the police's "clear advice and recommendation" to the organisers. They also advised people to celebrate Pride in smaller groups.[24][2] Despite warnings, several thousand people still attended a makeshift parade, with armed police in the lead, and laid down rainbow flags as well as flowers at London Pub.[25]
Oslo University Hospital reported that it has gone on red alert following the attack.[26] Ten people received medical treatment for serious injuries.[27]
The National Police Commissioner Marie Benedicte Bjørnland announced a temporary nationwide arming of police officers in Norway.[28][29] Additionally, Norway entered its highest terror alert level, although the Norwegian Police Security Service had "no indication" further attacks were likely to happen.[3]
Reactions
Domestic
![](https://web.archive.org/web/20220626174659im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Mourning_flowers_at_C.J.Hambros_plass_after_shootings.jpg/220px-Mourning_flowers_at_C.J.Hambros_plass_after_shootings.jpg)
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the shootings "shaking" and "terrible attack on innocent people", and expressed solidarity with the queer community.[30] He also expressed that, "This fight is not over, it is not safe, but we will win it."[31] The president of the Norwegian Parliament Masud Gharahkhani, a Norwegian Iranian, expressed his condolences that "something so brutal and terrible can happen [...] It's sad and unacceptable."[32]
King Harald V said the attacks had "horrified" him and his family and said "we must stand together" to defend "freedom, diversity, and respect for each other".[3][29] Crown Prince Haakon told reporters, "We must protect the right in Norway to love whomever we want."[33]
Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, who is the current Preses of the Church of Norway, expressed "Love does not end, it is a truth that must be given new strength after what has happened. We must show that this is the way it is and should be."[31]
International
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, expressed that she is "shocked by the heinous attack on innocent people."[3][33]
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, wrote on Twitter, "We stand stronger against hate if we stand together."[3][33]
The President and Prime Minister of Finland, Sauli Niinistö and Sanna Marin, respectively, gave their condolences on Twitter and condemned "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."[34]
John Kirby, a White House spokesperson, stated that the White House is "horrified by the mass shooting in Oslo today targeting the LGBTQI+ community there and our hearts obviously go out to the all the families of the victims, the people of Norway, which is a tremendous ally, and of course the LGBTQI+ community there and around the world."[3][7][33]
References
- ^ a b "Norway: Shooting at Oslo LGBTQ nightclub kills two". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d Krantz, Andreas; Nilsen, Ninnie Therese Rogne; Revheim-Rafaelsen, Mathias; Bakken, Jenny Dahl; Bernhus Årtun, Amalie; Grimstad Hestenes, Sunniva; Solheim, Simon; Knutsen, Maria Madeleine; Benjaminsen, Håkon; Skifjeld, Anne (25 June 2022). "Skyting ved utested i Oslo sentrum – siktede hadde to uregistrerte våpen" [Shooting at Nightclub in Central Oslo – Suspect had two unregistered weapons]. NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Oslo shooting: Norway attack being treated as Islamist terrorism, police say". BBC News. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Passerte gjerningsmannen: - Ropte "allahu akbar"". 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Suspect arrested after deadly shooting rampage in Oslo". France 24. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ Staff, Our Foreign (25 June 2022). "Two people killed in Oslo nightclub shooting". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Yeung, Jessie; Maruyama, Mayumi; Frater, James; Kennedy, Niamh (25 June 2022). "Oslo shooting near gay bar investigated as terrorism, as Pride parade is canceled". CNN. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ Libell, Henrik Pryser; Ives, Mike (25 June 2022). "2 Killed and at Least 19 Wounded in Shooting in Norway's Capital". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ Solheim, Marita; Skeie, Kari; Skifjeld, Anne (26 June 2022). "Utøya-overlevende opplevde nytt skytedrama" [Utøya survivors experienced new shooting]. NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
Mange av de som var på London Pub, hadde også vært på Utøya 22. juli 2011, forteller Pedersen.
[Many of those who were present at London Pub had also been present on Utøya on 22 July 2011, says Pedersen.] - ^ a b Holm-Nilsen, Sverre (25 June 2022). "Zaniar Matapour (42) er terrorsiktet etter skytingen i Oslo". NRK. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Siste nytt om skytehendelsen i Oslo" [Latest News on Shooting in Oslo] (in Norwegian Bokmål). VG. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "42-åring siktet for drap, drapsforsøk og terror etter Oslo-skyting". tk.no. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Dette vet vi om siktede (42) etter skytingen: – Ville skape frykt i befolkningen". rb.no. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Politiet: – Siktet for drap, drapsforsøk og terrorhandlinger". f-b.no. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ Engebretsen, Elisabeth L. (2022). "Scientizing Gender? An Examination of Anti-Gender Campaigns on Social Media, Norway". In Eslen-Ziya, H.; Giorgi, A. (eds.). Populism and Science in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 185–206. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-97535-7_9. ISBN 978-3-030-97534-0.
- ^ Pedersen, Jørn Normann; Sørheim, Kristine (25 June 2022). "Zaniar Matapour (42) er siktet for terror og drap" [Zaniar Matapour (42) Accused of Terror and Murder]. Avisa Oslo. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ Holm-Nilsen, Sverre; Henriksen Jørstad, Runar; Lorch-Falch, Sophie; Svendsen, Christine; Skifjeld, Anne (25 June 2022). "Zaniar Matapour (42) er siktet for drap og terror" [Zaniar Matapour (42) is charged with murder and terrorism]. NRK (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
Matapour representeres nå av advokat John Christian Elden. Han forteller at de har avbrutt avhøret med politiet.
[Matapour is now represented by lawyer John Christian Elden. He says that they have suspended the interrogation with the police.] - ^ Lindberg, Aksel (25 June 2022). "Siktede krever at avhør skrives ned" [Suspect demands that interrogation is written down]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
Til Aftenposten skriver Elden i en SMS at hans klient frykter politiet endrer båndopptak i etterkant av avhør. [...] – Nei, bare at politiet ikke får ta opp på lyd eller bilde som kan manipuleres. Han har forlangt at det skrives ned i samtid og skriftlig vedtas og signeres av ham.
[Elden wrote in SMS to Aftenposten that his client fears that the police are changing tape recordings after questioning. [...] – No, just that the police are not allowed to record audio or video that can be manipulated. He has demanded that it be written down at the same time and in writing adopted and signed by him.] - ^ Holten, Håvard (26 June 2022). "Siktede etter Oslo-skytingen er i nytt avhør" [Oslo shooting suspect is in new interrogation]. Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
Forsvarer John Christian Elden bekrefter at Zainar Matapour (42) er i et nytt avhør søndag formiddag.
[Defence lawyer John Christian Elden confirms that Zaniar Matapour (42) is in a new interrogation on Sunday morning.] - ^ Arne Marvik, Jo; Grimstad Hestenes, Sunniva (26 June 2022). "Sikta nektar å la seg avhøyre med mindre opptaket blir vist offentleg" [Suspect refuses to appear for questioning unless recordings are made public]. NRK (in Norwegian Nynorsk). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
På pressekonferansen i dag fortel politiadvokat Børge Enoksen at mannen både i går og i dag har nekta å stille til avhøyr. Årsaka er at mannen har stilt krav til korleis avhøyret skal bli utført. [...] – Klienten min har nekta å bli tatt opp på lyd og bilete, med mindre dette skulle bli sendt offentleg i sin heilskap, seier forsvararen til Matapour, John Christian Elden.
[At the press conference today, police lawyer Børge Enoksen told that the man both yesterday and today has refused to appear for questioning. The reason is that the man has set requirements for how the interrogation is to be carried out. [...] – My client has refused to be recorded on audio and video, unless this should be published publicly in its entirety, says Matapour's lawyer, John Christian Elden.] - ^ Svendsen, Christine; Holm-Nilsen, Sverre (25 June 2022). "Arfan Bhatti la ut sitater om drap på homofile på Facebook" [Arfan Bhatti posted quotes about the murder of gays on Facebook]. NRK (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
Bhatti, som har vært sentral i det norske ekstremistmiljøet i Norge, la 14. juni ut et brennende regnbueflagg og et sitat på sosiale medier som oppfordrer til å drap på homofile. Etter det NRK vet har terrorsiktede Zaniar Matapour (42) og Bhatti hatt kontakt. NRK får også opplyst at politiet etterforsker hvem i det ekstreme islamistmiljøet 42-åringen har hatt kontakt med, og hvor omfattende kontakten eventuelt har vært.
[Bhatti, who has been central to the Norwegian extremist milieu in Norway, posted a burning rainbow flag on June 14 and a quote on social media calling for the killing of gays. As far as NRK knows, terror suspect Zaniar Matapour (42) and Bhatti have been in contact. NRK is also informed that the police are investigating who in the extreme Islamist milieu the 42-year-old has had contact with, and how extensive the contact may have been.] - ^ "Zaniar Matapour (42) siktet for drap, drapsforsøk og terrorhandling: Dette vet vi om gjerningsmannen" [Zaniar Matapour (42) charged with murder, attempted murder and acts of terrorism: This is what we know about the perpetrator]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
Flere medier melder at Matapour har koblinger til Arfan Bhatti, som er en ledende figur for bevegelsen Profetens Umma. De ble kjent for å rekruttere en rekke nordmenn til å krige for IS i Syria.
[Several media outlets have reported that Matapour has connections to Arfan Bhatti, who is a leading figure in the Profetens Ummah movement. They are known for recruiting several Norwegians to fight for IS in Syria.] - ^ Hopperstad, Morten; Andersen, Gordon; Muladal, Ane; Haram, Ola (25 June 2022). "Opplysninger til VG: Oslo-skytter stoppet i bil sammen med Arfan Bhatti" [VG's information: Oslo shooter stopped in car with Arfan Bhatti]. Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
Ifølge VGs opplysninger hadde Matapour da blitt stoppet av politiet i forbindelse med en SIAN-demonstrasjon på Stovner i Oslo i april. Matapour satt da i en bil sammen med den sentrale islamisten Arfan Bhatti (44), ifølge VGs opplysninger.
[According to VG's information, Matapour had then been stopped by the police in connection with a SIAN demonstration at Stovner in Oslo in April. Matapour then sat in a car with the central Islamist Arfan Bhatti (44), according to VG's information.] - ^ Benjaminsen, Håkon; Rød, Mathias Moene (25 June 2022). "Pride-paraden i Oslo avlyses" [Pride Parade in Oslo Cancelled]. NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ Rydning, Emilie; Cogorno, Ingrid Renate (25 June 2022). "Flere tusen i Pride-tog: – Vi forsvinner ikke" [Several Thousand in Pride Parade: – We Won't Disappear]. Avisa Oslo . Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ Solsvik, Terje (25 June 2022). "Two dead, 14 wounded in Norway nightclub shooting, police say". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Norwegian Police Say 2 Killed In Mass Shooting In Oslo". The Huffington Post. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Politiet innfører midlertidig nasjonal bevæpning" [Police enact temporary national arming] (in Norwegian Bokmål). Norwegian Police Service. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Norway attack: Mass shooting suspect 'radicalised Islamist' - as terror threat raised to highest level". Sky News. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ Mikaelsen, Kaja Staude; Årtun, Amalie Bernhus (25 June 2022). "Støre: – Igjen er Norge rammet av et brutalt angrep mot uskyldige". NRK Oslo og Viken. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ a b Lom, Jørgen Arnor (26 June 2022). "Støre: Kampen er ikke over, den er ikke ufarlig, men vi skal vinne" [Støre: The fight is not over, it is not safe, but we will win]. Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
– Denne kampen er ikke over, den er ikke ufarlig, men vi skal vinne den sammen, sa Støre. [...] – Kjærligheten tar ikke slutt, det er en sannhet som må få ny kraft etter det som har skjedd. Vi må vise at det er slik det er og skal være, sa Tveit.
[– This fight is not over, it is not safe, but we will win it together, said Støre. [...] – Love does not end, it is a truth that must be given new strength after what has happened. We must show that this is the way it is and should be.] - ^ "Stortingspresidenten: – Brutalt og forferdelig" [Storting president: "brutal and terrible"]. NRK. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d Solsvik, Terje; Fouche, Gwladys (25 June 2022). "Horror on Oslo Pride day as gunman goes on deadly rampage at gay bar". Reuters. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Finnish president, PM extend condolences after Oslo shooting". Yle. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.