CNN
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Oslo’s annual Pride parade was canceled on Saturday following a lethal shooting at a gay bar that Norwegian police are investigating as a attainable terrorist assault.
Two individuals have been killed and eight others taken to hospital after the shooting near the London Pub, which describes itself on its web site as “the largest gay and lesbian venue in Oslo.”
Police obtained a number of calls in regards to the shooting at 1:14 a.m. native time, and arrived on the scene minutes later. They apprehended the male suspect three minutes after arrival, police mentioned.
The suspect, charged with terrorism, is a Norwegian citizen initially from Iran, and was “known to the police,” however has solely obtained “minor convictions” up till now, prosecutor Christian Hatlo informed reporters in Oslo Saturday.
Norway’s home intelligence service mentioned it was working to make clear whether or not extra acts of violence could also be deliberate after the shooting. The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) introduced in a tweet Saturday that it was “informed about the shooting in Oslo on Saturday.”
“We are now contributing all the relevant information we have to the Oslo police district and are working to clarify whether more acts of violence may be planned. We do not currently have any indications of that,” the PST mentioned.
Hatlo mentioned police had charged the suspect with “murder, attempted murder and terrorist acts.”
He mentioned the terrorism cost was justified on the premise of the variety of injured and useless individuals, the variety of crime scenes and an “overall assessment” indicating that the accused meant to “create serious fear in the population.”
At the time of the press convention, police had tried to query the suspect however had not but been profitable in doing so, Hatlo mentioned. The suspect was taken to the police station, and police informed CNN there have been presently no different suspects.
As for the fees, Hatlo mentioned the authorities will see “what the investigation shows.”
The suspect was armed with two weapons through the shooting, police mentioned. They didn’t affirm what weapons he used as a result of pending investigation.
There have been wounded individuals on the bottom inside and out of doors the bar when the police arrived. “The scene was chaotic, it was a warm evening and a lot of people were outside, so there were people running everywhere,” police informed CNN.
Among the eight in hospital, three individuals are in crucial situation. Another 14 victims sustained minor accidents.
In an announcement printed on Facebook after the shooting, the London Pub condemned the incident as “absolutely awful and pure evil.” The bar mentioned all its staff have been secure, and expressed condolences for the victims and their households.
Oslo’s annual Pride parade, scheduled to happen on Saturday, was canceled within the wake of the shootings after “clear advice and recommendation from the police.”
Writing on Facebook, organizers requested everybody to not attend and mentioned all occasions in reference to Pride have been additionally canceled.
“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,” mentioned chief of Oslo Pride, Inger Kristin Haugsevje, and chief of the Association for Gender and Sexuality Diversity, Inge Alexander Gjestvang, in a joint assertion.
“We will soon be proud and visible again, but today we will hold and share the pride celebrations from home.”
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre additionally expressed his condolences to the victims, calling the shooting “a cruel and deeply shocking attack on innocent people.”
Støre later known as for unity and mentioned “even though we do not know if the queer environment was the goal, the queer environment is regardless the victim.”
“This day, June 25th, we were to celebrate love, we were to fill the streets in the colors of the rainbow, we were to showcase our community and our freedom. Instead, we are filled with grief,” he mentioned. “Let there be no doubt. We are a community, we are a diverse and strong community, and we will never be threatened or give up our values.”
He re-reiterated that the perpetrator belonged “to an Islamist environment” however emphasised that “if this is Islamic terror, as PST [the Norwegian Police Security Service] points out, then many Muslims will feel vulnerable today and, in the time ahead. And I know that many Muslims in our country are also scared and in despair. It is our common responsibility to make it clear that no one other than the person or the people behind the attack is responsible for it.”