A man has been found guilty by a Norwegian court for a deadly gun attack at a gay bar in Oslo during the city’s Pride celebrations in 2022. Zanier Matapour killed two people and injured nine others after firing into a crowd outside the London Pub, a popular gay bar in the city.
The verdict brought relief to the head of the support group for survivors and victims’ relatives, Espen Evjenth, who was herself injured in the attack. The court described Matapour’s actions as a historically severe punishment and established a common understanding in society about the incident.
Matapour had pledged allegiance to “Islamic State” according to prosecutors, and the attack was deemed terrorism-motivated. Despite the defense claiming provocation by a fake IS member, the court convicted Matapour based on video evidence and bystander testimonies.
This shocking incident in Norway, known for its low crime rate, highlights the threat of lone wolf attacks. The country previously faced a horrific mass shooting in 2011 by a right-wing extremist.
Source: Reuters, AFP