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CRIME

Norwegian police to carry arms after threats against Muslims

Norwegian police said Saturday that on-duty officers would be armed following threats made against the Muslim community.

Published: 7 April 2024 12:43 CEST
A police student takes part in gun training at the Police Academy in Oslo
A police student takes part in gun training at the Police Academy in Oslo. Norwegian police said Saturday that officers would be armed after threats against Muslims. (Photo by Petter BERNTSEN / AFP)

Police in Norway, like in other Scandinavian countries, do not generally carry arms.

But a statement said the police director general “has decided to arm police on a national level from today.”

“The context is that of threats made against the Muslim religious community and the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr next week,” the statement added.

Police spokesman Roar Hansen told AFP that mosques had received “threats”.

Norwegian police were previously given permission to carry arms during the Easter period from March 27 until April 2.

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OSLO

Norwegian prosecutor wants maximum sentence for Oslo Pride shooter

Norway's public prosecutor on Tuesday asked that the maximum penalty of potentially life behind bars be handed down to the alleged perpetrator of the fatal shooting at Oslo's 2022 Pride festival.

Published: 15 May 2024 09:18 CEST
Norwegian prosecutor wants maximum sentence for Oslo Pride shooter

Zaniar Matapour, a 44-year-old Norwegian of Iranian origin, has been on trial since mid-March and is accused of an “aggravated act of terror”.

Matapour is accused of opening fire outside two bars in central Oslo, including the gay club London Pub, on the night of June 25th, just hours before the Oslo Pride Parade was to be held.

Two men, aged 54 and 60, were killed and nine others were wounded.

“There is no reason as to why the maximum sentence cannot be used in a case like this,” prosecutor Aud Kinsarvik Gravas said.

The maximum sentence is 30 years but can be extended indefinitely.

“He has shown no remorse or reflection. We have seen no change in him” over the last two years, Kinsarvik Gravas said.

Matapour, who was restrained by passersby after the shooting, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and has never revealed his motives. He pleaded not guilty.

Psychiatric experts have been divided over his mental health, and thereby his legal responsibility, but the public prosecutor deemed him criminally responsible at the time of the events and that he deliberately targeted the gay community.

The sentence sought against him, which includes a minimum of 20 years, would in practice keep him in detention for as long as he is deemed a danger to society.

The alleged mastermind behind the attack, Arfan Bhatti, a 46-year-old Islamist well-known in Norway, was extradited on May 3rd from Pakistan, where he had taken up residence before the shooting.

He will be tried at a later date.

The final part of the trial, due to last until Thursday, will be devoted to the defence case.

A verdict is not expected for several weeks.

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