COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The verdict is set to be announced on Thursday in the case of Zaniar Matapour, an Iranian-born Norwegian man accused of carrying out a terrorist attack at an LGBTQ+ festival in Oslo, Norway in 2002. The attack resulted in the death of two individuals and left nine others seriously injured at three different locations, with the main target being the London Pub, a popular gay bar.
Prosecutors claim that Matapour, a 45-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Extensive video evidence of the attack was presented during the trial, and the verdict will be delivered electronically to Matapour while he is in prison.
This incident shocked Norway, a country known for its low crime rate, but which has faced several “lone wolf” attacks in recent years. The trial, which began in March, concluded on May 16, with prosecutors seeking a 30-year sentence while Matapour’s defense argued for acquittal, claiming he was influenced by an undercover agent posing as a high-ranking member of ISIS.