The suspect continued to refuse to answer police questions – demanding that an interrogation be published.
Upset Norwegians gathered on Sunday for a memorial service at Oslo Cathedral to honor the victims of the Midsummer night’s mass shooting. There was broad representation from the government, the opposition and the royal family. Only the crown prince was gone Haakonwho had been diagnosed with coronary infection.
A shooting near a gay bar in central Oslo killed two people the night before Saturday and injured 21.
Lawyer for a man suspected of being shot John Christian Elden said he assumed his client would have the right to order a mental health test. The suspect refused to answer police questions on both Saturday and Sunday, told VG magazine (you will switch to another service).
According to the newspaper, the man had demanded that the interrogation be recorded on video and made public in its entirety.
The Oslo District Court is due to decide on the detention of the suspect on Monday.
The security police followed
A 42-year-old man familiar with Norwegian security police is suspected of murder, attempted murder and acts of terrorism. Norwegian protection police PST said at a news conference that the suspect has had mental health challenges. He is a Norwegian citizen with an Iranian background who has lived in Oslo.
The PST has been aware of the suspect since 2015, and this had been discussed a month ago. The reason for the discussion, according to the PST, was that the man had shown interest in labels and expressions that could be considered offensive to Islam.
– It was not seen in this discussion that the man had violent intentions, but PST is aware that the suspect has had challenges related to mental health, Acting Chief of the Security Police Roger Berg said at a news conference.
According to the Norwegian newspaper VG, the suspect has previously been convicted of aggravated assault and possession of drugs.
Berg, interviewed by VG, says the conversation with the suspect assessed the intent of the violence.
– In that sense, it can be said in retrospect that we may have made a mistake.
The Pride procession was canceled, some still marching
The shooting took place on a bar street near the popular London Pub gay bar. Police say they received the first reports of what happened at 1.14 local time. The suspect was arrested only five minutes later. Police said the heroic involvement of bystanders helped. Following the incident, the terrorist threat level in Norway was raised.
A pride week has been celebrated in Oslo this week, but Oslo Pride canceled a pride parade scheduled for Saturday. The organizers said they made the decision after receiving instructions from the police.
Although the official pride procession was canceled, thousands of people gathered spontaneously to march through the Norwegian capital despite police instructions.
– We’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going anywhere, the marchers shouted.
– I think it’s fantastic that this procession took place. Otherwise, he would have won, an apparently absent participant told AFP.
During Saturday, many people went to drop rainbow flags and flowers in the vicinity of the shelter. Among other things, the Norwegian Crown Princess caught her crying Mette-Marit visited the scene, as did the country’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Störe. The actual place of killing was still isolated by the police.