terrorist suspect accused of shooting dead two people in a gay bar in Oslo before a Pride festival, refuses to have his testimony recorded by investigators.
Two men, in their 50s and 60s, were killed and more than 20 other people injured in the shooting during the LGBTQ Pride festival in Norway’s capital.
Norwegian media have identified the suspect as Oslo resident Zaniar Matapour, who arrived in Norway in the 1990s from a Kurdish part of Iran.
Security forces are on the scene where several people were injured during a shooting outside the London bar in central Oslo,
/ via REUTERSMatapour had a previous criminal record that included a drug offense and a gun offense for carrying a knife. Investigators said they seized two weapons after Saturday’s shooting: a handgun and an automatic weapon.
His defense attorney, John Christian Elden, who previously represented Bhatti, said his client gave no explanation for his actions.
“It is very unclear if there is any motive,” Elden told the Norwegian newspaper VG. “It also means that one has to be very careful to speculate about the reasons why this (shooting) happened.”
Matapour’s interrogation by police was cut short on Sunday after he refused to have his statement recorded and videotaped, which is standard police practice. He fears police will edit the recordings and manipulate his words against him, Elden claimed.
“So far, the police have insisted on recording the interrogation on audio and video,” Elden told VG. “My client refused to be taken on audio and video unless it was broadcast in its entirety in public.”
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store shows respect during a service in Oslo Cathedral, Oslo, on Sunday 26 June 2022, following an attack on Saturday in Oslo. (Javad Parsa / NTB via AP)
/ (Javad Parsa / NTB via AP)Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a speech during Sunday’s memorial service that “the shooting in the night hours put an end to the Pride parade, but it did not end the fight and the attempts at discrimination, prejudice and hatred. to stop fighting. “
He also addressed Norway’s Muslim community.
“I know how many of you felt when it became clear that the perpetrator belonged to the Islamic community. Many of you have experienced fear and rest. You have to know this: We stand together, we are one community and we are jointly responsible for the community. ”