A Norwegian court has sentenced a man to 30 years in prison for helping plan a deadly shooting during Oslo’s 2022 Pride celebrations.
The court found 48-year-old Arfan Bhatti guilty of complicity in aggravated terrorism. Although Bhatti was in Pakistan at the time of the attack, prosecutors proved he played a key role in organizing it.
The shooting took place at the London Pub, a popular LGBTQ+ venue in central Oslo. Gunman Zaniar Matapour opened fire, killing two people and injuring eight others. Dozens more suffered minor injuries in the panic that followed.
In July 2024, a Norwegian court convicted Matapour of murder and aggravated terrorism and handed him the same 30-year sentence.
Authorities extradited Bhatti from Pakistan in 2024, and he has remained in custody since then. His lawyers immediately appealed the verdict and denied any involvement in the attack.
Norway considers the shooting one of the most serious acts of terrorism in recent years. The court said Bhatti’s actions directly contributed to the planning and execution of the attack.
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