Two people were killed and 21 injured after a suspected terrorist gunned down clubbers at an LGBT+ hotspot in Oslo last night.
An Iranian Norwegian suspect, 42, has been charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorism.
He was known to police, having previously faced charges of drugs possession and carrying a knife.
The unidentified man was detained by cops on the scene with the help of revellers at London Pub, one of two clubs targeted in the attack.
The other site hit during the attack around 1.15am today was next door’s Herr Nilsen Jazz Club, where revellers described being hit with flying shards of glass.
One woman was forced to play dead to escape the gunman’s fire. She told VG Norway: ‘There was a woman who pulled me down and told me I had to play dead.’
The man then shot the table directly behind her. She escaped London Pub unharmed.
Police lawyer Christian Hatlo said: ‘Our overall assessment is that there are grounds to believe that he wanted to cause grave fear in the population.
‘We need to go through his medical history, if he has any. It’s not something that we’re aware of now.’
Oslo was due to hold its annual gay pride parade later on Saturday, but organisers cancelled the event amid fears of potential follow up attacks.
Organisers Oslo Pride wrote on Facebook this morning: ‘Oslo Pride has received clear advice and a recommendation that the parade, Pride Park, and any other event in relation to Oslo Pride be cancelled.
‘We will follow the police’s recommendation and take care of each other’, lead organiser Inger Kristin Haugsevje added.
Oslo Police District confirmed last night: ‘Two people have been confirmed dead in the shooting episode. There are several seriously injured.’
National newspaper in Norway, VG, reported that ‘witnesses said people ran from the scene in panic’.
Oslo’s university hospital said it had gone on red alert following the shooting.
