The meeting was held at PST’s premises in Nydalen on Thursday. – We had a good meeting with PST, said leader of Oslo pride, Dan Bjørke. During the meeting, he still did not get an answer to whether PST should have notified the Oslo police when they learned of a possible terrorist attack in Norway. – We must have answers because we must have confidence that PST is doing its job. People must feel safe, says Bjørke to news. Unanswered questions Bjørke brought 18 questions to the meeting with PST. Among other things, why the security service has not singled out queers as a target for extreme Islamists in its annual threat assessments. After the meeting, Bjørke said that he had not received answers to the questions, but that PST promised to answer them later. – Did you get any apologies for not being notified? – No, but we have got the impression that they understand the situation we are in, replies Bjørke. On 25 June last year, two people were killed when terrorist suspect Zaniar Matapour shot around in the center of Oslo. The attack took place during Oslo Pride. On Thursday last week, news and VG were able to report that PST had been notified by the Norwegian Intelligence Service about a possible terrorist attack several days before the mass shooting. Many were out in the streets celebrating Oslo Pride on the night of 25 June. A little after one o’clock, Zaniar Matapour started shooting at several pubs with machine guns. 262 people are offended after the shooting. Photo: Olav Rønneberg / news Oslo police district did not receive information PST received this information, but did not notify Oslo police district. The management of Oslo Pride has reacted strongly to this. On Thursday last week, the leader of the organisation, Dan Bjørke, said that it was completely incomprehensible. – It is absolutely shocking that PST has sat on information about a terrorist threat ahead of the Nordics’ biggest queer festival. No one is asking for us to become a police state, but it must be possible to ask why PST did not inform the Oslo police ahead of our festival, Bjørke told news. PST manager Beate Gangås says she understands that many queers react to the information that has come to light. – We will see if there is anything we can do with communication, Gangås said after the meeting. – Should you have done something differently? – It is too early for me to say anything about. We turn over every stone to see if there is anything we could do differently, replies the PST manager. Gangås was police chief in the Oslo police district when the attack occurred. During the spring, an evaluation committee will come up with a report on what was done and what was not done. – I am concerned that we get all the facts on the table. We will look at whether there is anything we can do with our work processes, interaction with others and communication, says Gangås. Leader of Oslo pride, Dan Bjørke. Photo: ISMAIL BURAK AKKAN / news Had downgraded the terrorist threat Many believe that the secret services have a lot to answer for after the attack, including whether the terror could have been avoided: On 14 June, the well-known Islamist Arfan Bhatti posted quotes about the murder of homosexuals on Facebook , and a burning rainbow flag. He was later charged with complicity in terrorism, but denies guilt. On 16 June, PST downgraded the terrorist threat from extreme Islamists. The security service assessed an attack as unlikely. On 19 June, a secret agent on assignment from the E-service received information about a possible terrorist attack in Scandinavia. PST was notified, but did not forward the information to local police. Nor did they change the threat assessment. On the night of 25 June, Zaniar Matapour shot at the pubs Per på Hjørnet, Herr Nilsen and London pub. Already on the same day, PST assessed that the shooting was an extreme Islamist act of terrorism.
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– Turn over every stone to see if we could do something differently – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
