Oslo Pride cancelled after deadly gay bar shooting

The organisers of this weekend’s Oslo Pride parade have cancelled the event in the wake of a gunman’s deadly attack on a gay nightclub.

In the early hours of Saturday, the man opened fire with two weapons, including an automatic gun, on revellers inside and outside the London Pub. The venue is a popular gay nightclub and bar in the centre of the Norwegian capital.

Two people are reported to have been killed and more than 20 were injured in the attack.

“Many people were crying and screaming, the injured were screaming, people were distressed and scared – very, very scared,” one man, Marcus Nybakken, told Reuters.

A 42-year-old Norwegian man said to be of Iranian origin was arrested soon after the attack. Police said they are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime related to the Pride celebrations. The suspect has been charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorist acts.

In a statement, Oslo Pride said it had received “clear advice and a recommendation from the police that the parade, Pride Park, and any other event in relation to Oslo Pride be cancelled.”

The organisers called on “anyone who had planned to participate in or watch the parade, not to show up,” adding that “all events in relation to Oslo Pride have been cancelled.”

“We are sending warm thoughts and love to next of kin, those who were wounded, and others affected. We will soon be proud and visible again, but today, we will share our Pride celebrations from home.”

On the London Pub Facebook page, the owners described the shooting as “absolutely horrific and pure evil”. They offered their condolences to those killed and injured and their families and confirmed that all staff were safe.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre condemned the attack. “We do not yet know what was behind this terrible act, but to the queer community who are now scared and in mourning, I want to say that we are all with you,” he said on Facebook.

The shooting is reminiscent of the infamous Pulse nightclub massacre in 2016, when 49 LGBTQ+ people and their friends were slaughtered in cold blood by a gunman in Orlando, Florida.