The 2022 mass shooting in Oslo, Norway.

 A mass shooting took place in Oslo, Norway on June 25, 2022, resulting in the death of two people and injuries to twenty-one others. The police are investigating the incident as an act of Islamist terrorism and suspect that the Oslo LGBTQ pride event may have been the target. The event was hosted by the local branch of the Norwegian Organisation for Sexual and Gender Diversity.

The suspect in custody is Zaniar Matapour, a Norwegian citizen who originally hails from Sanandaj, Iran. Matapour had been living in Norway since 1991 and was known to the police since 2015. They stated that he had been radicalized into Islamic extremism and had a history of violence, threats, and mental health issues. He has been charged with murder, attempted murder, and terrorism.

The shooting occurred at several locations associated with Oslo Pride, including a gay bar called London Pub and a nearby takeaway restaurant. The perpetrator shouted "Allahu Akbar" while opening fire at the gay bar, according to a witness. The police were called immediately, and the suspect was apprehended within five minutes of the shooting. Dozens of people took refuge in the pub's basement during the attack, while others were wounded both inside and outside the bar. The police described the scene as "chaotic."

VictimsA mass shooting in Oslo on 25 June 2022 resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to twenty-one others, with ten of the wounded sustaining critical injuries while the remaining eleven had minor injuries. One victim, a 60-year-old man, was killed at the London Pub, while the other victim, a 54-year-old man, was killed at Per på hjørnet bar. Both individuals were residents of Bærum. Oslo University Hospital activated its red alert status to manage the influx of injured victims, with ten requiring medical treatment for severe injuries. Several people present at the London Pub, including Eskil Pedersen, who was also present during the 2011 Utøya shooting by domestic terrorist Anders Behring Breivik, were among those injured in the attack.

InvestigationAt a press conference on 25 June 2022, the police stated that they suspected the attack was motivated by anti-LGBT hate and aimed at targeting the Oslo Pride event, which has seen sustained attacks from anti-LGBT extremists on social media. The police also reported that they had known the suspect, Zaniar Matapour, since 2015, and that he had a history of violence, threats, and mental health issues, and had been radicalized into Islamic extremism. However, Matapour's lawyer, John Christian Elden, claimed that his client feared police manipulation during interrogations and demanded that everything be written down.

In February 2023, media outlets reported that an Islamist had contacted an undercover agent of the Norwegian Intelligence Service on Telegram on 19 June, seeking contact with the Islamic State and claiming that some "brothers" were planning an operation in Europe. The Islamist requested approval from the Islamic State and asked the terror organization to take responsibility for the attack after it occurred. The intelligence service knew the identity of the Islamist, who used a pseudonym, and suspected that Arfan Bhatti was the mastermind behind the planned attack. After the shooting, the Islamist sent a news article about the attack to the undercover agent, and Bhatti was later put in contact with an undercover agent posing as an emir of the Islamic State. The two kept in touch for at least eight weeks after the attack.

Responses

Domestic

The day after the shooting, mourners placed flowers with rainbow flags at the nearby Herr Nilsen Jazz Club. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre referred to the attack as a "terrible assault on innocent people" and expressed solidarity with the LGBT community. He emphasized that the fight against hate was not over, but that it could be overcome if they worked together. Støre also reiterated that the attack was the fault of an individual and not the Muslim community in Norway, even though the perpetrator had Islamist motivations. During a speech on the anniversary of the 2011 Norway attacks, the Prime Minister acknowledged that queer people are often the targets of hate, threats, and violence, especially trans people. He vowed that Norway would not accept this and would use the memory of the 2011 attacks to reject hate. Støre also called on moderate Muslims to denounce homophobic and transphobic attitudes and actions.

Norwegian Parliament President Masud Gharahkhani, a Norwegian-Iranian, stated that it was "sad and unacceptable" for such a brutal attack to take place. King Harald V expressed his horror at the attacks and emphasized the need to stand together to defend freedom and diversity. Crown Prince Haakon stated that Norway should protect the right to love whomever one wants. Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, the Preses of the Church of Norway, expressed his belief that love would gain new strength following the attack.

International

Many world leaders expressed shock and offered condolences. French President Emmanuel Macron encouraged people to stand together, while Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Commission, expressed her shock at the attack. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin gave their condolences on Twitter and condemned all forms of terrorism. John Kirby, a White House spokesperson, stated that the White House was "horrified" by the shooting and expressed solidarity with Norway and the LGBT community.