Dead in shooting at gay club in Oslo, police take terrorism into account | Abroad

During the night from Friday to Saturday, several shots were fired just outside the London Pub, a gay nightclub in central Oslo. An eyewitness told the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet that he heard “15 to 20 shots”, which caused panic and people started running. The people stood before the shots were fired in the smoking area just outside the club.

Shortly after the incident, a 42-year-old man was arrested near the shooting, police said, without giving any further details. Civilians also played a role in that arrest. “There are people who have made a heroic attempt to get the perpetrator under control,” police spokesman Tore Barstad told VG newspaper. The police are investigating the case for a terrorist motive. A press conference will follow later today.

A reporter from the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK who was on the scene said a man took a weapon from a bag and started firing. Much is still unclear. For example, the police are still guessing about the motive of the shooter and he would also have shot at two other places, but in the same nightlife street. Police have found two firearms near the London Pub.

The London Pub is a famous gay nightclub in Norway. The Pride, which would be celebrated in various places in Oslo this weekend, is canceled due to the shooting.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has responded to the events in the Norwegian capital in a Facebook post. He calls the shooting “cruel.” “Last night’s shooting outside the London pub in Oslo was a brutal and deeply shocking attack on innocent people. My thoughts go out to the victims and their families. We don’t know yet what was behind this terrible act, but to gay people who are now scared and sad, I want to say that we are all behind you.”

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