Oslo shooting: a memorial service held in Oslo after the fatal shooting in a gay bar
Sylvie Claire / June 26, 2022
Norway plans to commemorate this Sunday morning the victims of a suspected terrorist attack that took place in Oslo. The commemoration will take place in the early hours of Saturday morning with a church service in the Norwegian capital.
The attack, in which an assailant fired at several locations, including a popular gay bar, on Saturday morning, left two people dead and more than 20 injured. The Norwegian intelligence service PST believed the shooting was an Islamist terrorist attack.
The alleged perpetrator has been arrested. He is a 42 year old Norwegian of Iranian origin. He is known to the police and also to the intelligence services that fight against terrorism. According to the police, he is a radicalized Islamist. It is still not known what his motive was. The man's mental health is under investigation, among other things.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit planned to attend the memorial service at Oslo Cathedral on Sunday morning alongside Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, NRK television reported.
This shakes our whole society, said church representative Kristin Gunleiksrud Raaum. Those of us who are gay must now have the solidarity and support of all others.
The London Pub nightclub - the main target of the attacks - has been a popular meeting place for gay people in Oslo since 1979. On its website, the club describes itself as a place with a totally unique atmosphere. Here everyone can be themselves and be accepted for that.
Many of them were there on Friday nightand in the early hours of the day, before the big Pride march, which was scheduled for Saturday, after being cancelled the last two years because of the pandemic. The parade was finally cancelled again on Saturday morning due to the attacks and will be rescheduled at a later date.
The Oslo police have sent extra patrols into the city and have armed all officers, who are not usually armed. The TSP raised the national terror alert to the highest level.