Police Treating Oslo Shooting As Islamist Terrorism

The attacker was arrested by police officers – who were helped by bystanders – minutes later
Norway’s prime minister told the BBC the suspect was questioned in May, but was not deemed a threat at the time

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that 42-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorism after a shooting in the centre of Norway’s capital, Oslo.

Two people died and 21 were wounded early on Saturday in what police calls an “act of Islamist terrorism”.

The shootings were in and near the London Pub, a popular LGBTQ+ venue, the Herr Nilsen jazz club and another pub.

Norway’s prime minister told the BBC the suspect was questioned in May, but was not deemed a threat at the time.

“We now need to see the result of an investigation,” PM Jonas Gahr Stoere told the BBC’s Newshour programme late on Saturday.

The shooting started at about 01:15 local time on Saturday (23:15 GMT Friday), officials said.

Eyewitnesses said the suspect took out a gun from his bag and started firing, forcing terrified people to either throw themselves to the ground or flee.

The attacker was arrested by police officers – who were helped by bystanders – minutes later.

The authorities later said the suspect was a Norwegian national.

FURTHER READING

Of the 21 injured, 10 were in a serious condition.

The terrorism alert level in Norway has now been raised to its highest level, though the country’s PST intelligence service said it currently had “no indication” further attacks were likely.

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Yinka Akanbi

Yinka is an aesthete and a cosmopolite.