Oslo Bar Attack: A Nation Gripped by Terror

The release of harrowing video footage from the Oslo Police has brought the horrific events of a gun attack on two bars in Oslo into stark focus. The trial of Zaniar Matapour, a man accused of terror charges and the murder of two individuals, has begun, with the chilling evidence laid bare for the world to see.

The Attack Unfolds

The three-minute police video, captured by CCTV cameras, provides a disturbing account of the attack that took place outside the bars during Oslo's Pride celebrations.

The gunman, dressed in a yellow t-shirt and cap, is seen moving towards the Per pa Hjornet bar and the London Pub, both popular with the city's LGBTQ+ community. He then began firing on those seated outside.

The tragic outcome: two men, aged 54 and 60, were fatally wounded, with nine others suffering gunshot wounds and a further number injured.

In total, 19 bullets were fired. The incident occurred in the early hours of June 25th as the Pride festival neared its end, leaving those in the courtroom visibly shaken. Matapour, when asked if he was guilty, shook his head and questioned the trial's timing during Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims.

Allegiance and Radicalization

State prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo stated that Matapour recorded an oath of allegiance to Islamic State shortly before the attack.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect had visited a mosque and taken a taxi to central Oslo before the attack, carrying a sports bag. The prosecutor added that Matapour had previously received psychiatric treatment and was reported to Norway's PST police security service due to concerns about his radicalization.

Since his arrest, Matapour has remained silent, and is not expected to speak in his defense.

He was assessed as legally responsible for his actions, although not all experts agreed. The PST was criticized in a report that stated the attack could have been prevented, and its chief apologized for failing to respond to a warning from the intelligence service.

Eleven days prior to the attack, a known Norwegian Islamist, Arfan Bhatti, posted a picture on social media of a burning Pride flag.

The suspect was seen in the same car as Mr. Bhatti, and the official report concluded that if the PST had acted, the shooting may have been avoided. Mr. Bhatti, currently in Pakistan and fighting extradition to Norway, has denied any involvement in the attack.

Echoes of Violence

The attack on the bars, which marked an escalation in attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, resonates with a disturbing pattern of right-wing extremist violence across Europe.

This is not an isolated incident.

In other places, right-wing extremists have been targeting minorities in Europe.

In the EU alone, there were 45 arrests and four attacks in 2023, according to a Europol report, with three more foiled. The spread of extremist ideologies across the globe continues to fuel violence.