– Won’t explain himself – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

On Thursday evening, the well-known Islamist Arfan Bhatti was extradited from Pakistan to Norway. On Friday evening, the man charged with complicity in serious terrorism landed in Norway.

As early as Tuesday, Bhatti will be called as a witness in the trial against terrorist accused Zaniar Matapour after the shooting on 25 June 2022.

Here, Elden says that Bhatti wants to keep quiet.

– He is not going to explain himself as long as he is charged in the same case, says the defender to NRK on Saturday.

A team from the police emergency squad hurriedly went to Pakistan to take terrorist accused Arfan Bhatti to Norway.

It has been “very important” for the government and the Norwegian authorities to have Bhatti extradited, said Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) in a press conference.

– When we have now succeeded, it can give us more answers to the terrible thing that happened on the night of 25 June, said the Minister of Justice.

According to Elden, the collection and delivery came as a surprise to Bhatti.

– He was surprised when he was picked up at the prison, more or less arrested and taken to the airport and transported to Norway. He has been told that he will receive a court decision on May 28 on whether he can be extradited or not. Now he is here, says Elden.

On Saturday, it will be decided whether and possibly how long Bhatti will be remanded in custody.

– How does he view detention?

– He has applied for release and believes that the conditions are not present. Then the judge must decide on that question. We believe there is no reasonable reason for suspicion. It is then important to clarify that Bhatti is only charged at this stage and that the police specify that it requires a long investigation to decide whether he should be prosecuted or not.