Shooting at a nightclub in central Oslo – investigated as terrorism – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
People have died after the shooting in a popular nightlife street in central Oslo.
The incident is being investigated as terrorism, reports Oslo police district in a press release.
Several people are also injured. Ten people are seriously injured and eleven are slightly injured, but no one is life-threatening anymore, the police said at a press conference on Saturday morning.
The shooting is said to have taken place at Per on the corner and the London Pub. The latter is known for being a gathering place for gays.
The police currently assume that there is one perpetrator. The police are also introducing temporary national armaments.
– Based on information from PST and the Oslo police district, we have therefore decided to introduce temporary armaments, they write in a press release.
Anyone who needs someone to talk to can contact Oslo Municipality’s Social and Outpatient Emergency Service on 23 48 70 90.
Was familiar with PST and from the police before
Just before 01.20, a person was arrested by the police near the scene shortly after the incident.
The perpetrator is now charged with murder, attempted murder and terror. He was also known to PST and the police from before, they report at the press conference.
– But these are not big things, some convictions of minor matters, says prosecutor Christian Hatlo and elaborates that it concerns carrying a knife and drug conviction.
In an overall assessment, the police assume that the perpetrator’s motive was to create serious fear. Psychiatry is also a theory, according to Hatlo.
The 42-year-old man is a Norwegian citizen, but is from Iran.
Forensic scientists have also searched his home.
The man has still not been questioned, but is in dialogue with his appointed defender.
– He wants to use a lawyer that he has used before. I do not know who it is, and refer to the police. I was first appointed because I have a rotation today, says defense lawyer Cecilie Nakstad to NRK.
according to Dagbladet the accused will have John Christian Elden as his new defender.
– I have received notification from the police to ensure they want me appointed as public defender, and I have therefore accepted the assignment. I do not know the accused from before, and have no information about the case until I have spoken to him. I am on my way to the arrest during the morning, he says to the newspaper.
Deployed all available resources
Police are still working on the scene and have questioned 40 witnesses. These are followed up at the emergency room if necessary.
Large areas are cordoned off.
The police have also deployed all available resources today, but they have no information that serious incidents will occur in the near future.
The police security service also provides the Oslo police with relevant information.
– We now contribute all relevant information we have to Oslo PD, and work to clarify whether more acts of violence may be planned. So far, we have no indications of that, writes PST on Twitter.
Cancels pride
The Pride management in Oslo put crisis staff after the incident, said press manager Rohan Sandemo Fernando in Pride to NRK.
They were also in close dialogue with the police about what to do with the pride event that was to take place on Saturday morning.
On Saturday morning, however, it was decided that Oslo Pride would be canceled on the advice of the police.
Oslo Pride therefore asks everyone who has planned to participate in or watch the parade not to attend. All events in connection with Oslo Pride are canceled, Oslo Pride writes in a press release.
– We consider the hate crime trail to be strong, otherwise we would not have made such a recommendation, says police inspector Tore Soldal at the press conference to the police.
The police are watching whether pride may have been an end in itself.
– Now we will follow the police’s recommendations and take care of each other. Warm thoughts and love go to relatives, the injured and others affected. We will soon be proud and visible again, says Oslo pride and Fri in a joint press release.
Nevertheless, Oslo encourages pride and Free people to mark love all over Norway.
– We encourage the whole of Norway to show solidarity and mark pride at home, in their neighborhoods and hamlets, says leader of Oslo Pride Inger Kristin Haugsevje.
All employees are safe
All the employees at Per on the corner are safe, write only on Facebook. They are all shaken by the events of the night.
Everyone at the London pub is also safe.
– The shooting tonight is absolutely terrible and pure evil. Our thoughts go to the dead, injured and relatives. All employees in London are safe and physically unharmed. Take care of each other during this time, the pub writes on Facebook.
Oslo Municipality has set crisis staff and is considering whether measures should be implemented. This is confirmed by rapporteur Marianne Borgen (SV) Avisa Oslo.
– We’re terrified
In a statement from His Majesty King Harald he says to kongefamilien is terrified of the night’s shooting tragedy in central Oslo.
– We sympathize with all relatives and affected and send warm thoughts to all who are now red, restless and in grief. We must stand together to defend ours: Freedom, diversity and respect for each other. We must continue to stand up for all people to feel safe.
– Now we have to take good care of each other, he concludes.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) tells NRK that the incident last night was a cruel and deeply shocking attack on innocent people.
– We do not yet know what was behind this terrible act, but to queers who are now scared and in grief, I want to say that we are all with you in this, says Støre.
Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) is also informed about the incident.
– I keep up to date with the shooting in Oslo. This is a very serious incident that shakes us all, says Mehl to NRK.
– Never thought this would happen in Oslo
The police received help from civilians to get control of the perpetrator. It is the police task leader Tore Barstad during a press briefing during the fire.
– The police are immensely grateful for that, he says.
Several civilians also contributed to the life-saving work.
A witness NRK has spoken to was inside the London Pub when shots were fired.
– I was in the outer bar in London when it happened. I just noticed that a shot was fired, and I was hit by a shard of glass. There were more and more and more shots, so I escaped into the inner bar and tried to get as many as possible with me, he says to NRK.
He says that there was panic at the nightclub.
– At first people did not understand what was happening, but then there was panic, he says.
Morten Sommerstad was in the basement of the nightclub.
– Suddenly people came in where we stood. Everyone ran to a corridor with an emergency exit. There we stood, and no one really knew where we were going or what was happening. It was very chaos, says Sommerstad.
He says everyone got to safety.
– I never thought this would happen in Oslo, says Sommerstad.
A third witness tells NRK that there was chaos in the nightclub Elsker. The witness was standing in line when people started running from the scene.
– Seeing that people ran and were genuinely scared in the face scared me, the witness says.
The guard let those standing in line outside into the nightclub. The witness and a friend stayed there for about an hour, before the nightclub closed and was sent out. There, the witness was met by large police forces and ambulances.