The main responsibility lies with PST – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

The terrorist attack in Oslo on 25 June 2022 hit queer nightclubs in the middle of the pride celebrations. Two people were killed and several others injured in the attack.

The trial against the defendant Zaniar Matapour is currently ongoing in the Oslo district court. Four others have been charged in the case, including Arfan Bhatti, who was extradited from Pakistan to Norway last week.

The control committee does not criticize the government’s handling in advance and the immediate follow-up of the attack.

However, the majority in the committee, with the exception of the members from Ap and Sp, believe that Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl failed in the follow-up of the queer environment.

– Despite repeated inquiries, it took nearly a year before the minister arranged a meeting with the queer organizations that were affected by the attack. The committee majority believes that the queer environment was not followed up well enough in the aftermath of the attack, says committee leader Peter Frølich (H) in a press release.

PST has the main responsibility

An important piece of evidence against Matapour is the contact a secret agent in the National Intelligence Service had with a user they believe to be Aisha Kausar ahead of the attack. The person the police believe to be Kausar announced that an attack would take place in a Scandinavian country.

Kausar is also charged in the case.

The e-service notified PST of this, and explained there that they believed the attack could be linked to Arfan Bhatti. The e-service also notified that Bhatti had shared a photo of a burning pride flag on his Facebook account.

Yet nothing was done to secure the pride celebration, which went on while secret service meetings were being held.

The committee believes that the main responsibility for the attack not being averted lies with PST. They believe that the E-service did what they could to notify.

– We have not been concerned with finding scapegoats, but responsibility must be clearly placed. We know that PST works hard to secure Norway, but when terror still happens, you have to learn from the mistakes and shortcomings of your own work, says Frølich.

PST’s work in the run-up to the pride attack has gained momentum in the wake of the attack. A committee that was appointed to look at the police’s work was very critical of PST’s work at the forefront.

– PST must address the weaknesses that have been uncovered, and increase its awareness of vulnerable minorities as possible terrorist targets, says SV committee member Audun Lysbakken.

The committee does not share the view of the 25 June committee which assessed the police’s work before, during and after the attack on all points. The committee said the decision to cancel the solidarity march on June 27 is in breach of freedom of assembly.

– It is the courts that ultimately decide what constitutes a human rights violation. The committee nevertheless expresses that we do not share the 25 June committee’s conclusion that human rights were violated when the police recommended the cancellation of the event, says Frølich.

Oslo Pride leader Dan Bjørke is aware that the announcement of cancellation was a heavy hit for many in the queer community.

– It was terribly sad for many. It was a period when many people had a strong need to meet and stand together in solidarity, says Bjørke.

More than whether the decision violates the Constitution or EMF is he concerned with why the situation arose in the first place.

– Why didn’t PST have an overview? Why did the chaos occur that caused them to overrule the police precinct and the event to be cancelled? Then you are back again to the collaboration between PST and the E-service, and all the follow-up points that the 25 June committee came up with.

– Outrageous

Committee member Grunde Almeland says all those involved have major learning points, and believes all those involved must prioritize following up the learning points from the setting.

– It is outrageous to see that many affected by the terror on 25 June still do not receive the follow-up they deserve, even almost two years after the attack. Therefore, the only thing missing would be for the control committee to state clearly today that Emilie Enger Mehl has not done a good enough job.

The Storting’s control committee asks the government to ensure that relevant follow-up research is started on those affected by the attack on 25 June, the committee’s recommendation states.

Almeland highlights this.

– It is incomprehensible to me that after two years no work has been initiated to gather knowledge about how things are going with those who were greatly affected by the terror. I am glad that the Storting is now speaking out.

Center Party committee member Nils T. Bjørke believes that some of the criticism against Minister of Justice Mehl is unqualified.

– It is simply wrong that she did not meet the queer organizations for almost a year. She had her first meeting with them in October, says Bjørke.

Despite criticism, he understands that the solidarity marking was cancelled.

– When you have to make such time-critical assessments, the safety of people is most important. Then I think it was not unreasonable that it was cancelled. Although I understand that it is sad for those for whom it was relevant.

– Gets along very poorly with many people

Leader Espen Evjenth in the Support Group on 25 June is also happy that the Storting is now asking the government to initiate follow-up research.

– Our impression is that many of those affected are doing very badly. In court, we have heard people talk about depression, substance abuse problems and serious trauma. Many have been completely or partially out of working life for long periods.

– We believe that it is urgent to get started. We need to get an overview of people’s needs, and then those affected must get the help they need to get back on their feet after the attack.

The Ministry of Justice says they will familiarize themselves with the proposal before the case is considered in the Storting next week. The Minister of Justice does not wish to be interviewed by NRK, according to a press contact in the ministry. PST also does not wish to comment on the matter.