Man Charged With Terror Offenses Following Oslo Shooting

Police cordon off an area in central Oslo following a fatal mass shooting

A man has been charged with terror offenses over a fatal mass shooting at a gay bar in Oslo, with authorities investigating the possibility that the attack was motivated by radical Islamist beliefs.

The shootings in the center of the Norwegian capital came hours before the start of the city’s Pride celebrations, which were called off in light of the attack

The first victims were shot at the London Pub, a popular bar which describes itself as “the largest gay and lesbian venue in Oslo”, before the gunman moved out onto the surrounding streets, firing more shots. The attacker also reached a second city center bar before being apprehended.

Two people were killed while a further eight people were taken to hospital with injuries.

Norway’s PST intelligence service said that the arrested man, a 42-year-old Norwegian national of Iranian origin, had been known to security services since 2015 but had not been considered to be an imminent threat. Acting PST chief Roger Berg noted that the suspect had experiences “difficulties with his mental health”, but said that his team were treating the attack as “an unresolved terrorist situation”.

Prosecutor Christian Hatlo said that the suspect had been charged with “murder, attempted murder and terrorist acts”. Police were still investigating whether Pride itself was the target of the attack, he confirmed.