A full investigation is underway after the attack in Rosenkrantz gate on Saturday night, where many people were shot.
A key task is to find out who terror suspect Zaniar Matapour (43) has been in contact with recently.
– FAMOUS FIGURE: Arfan Bhatti, pictured here in 2012 during a demonstration concerning Norway’s participation in the war in Afghanistan. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB
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TV 2 has previously written about the relationship he has with the famous Islamist Arfan Bhatti (44). They were, among other things neighbors in Greenland in 2015.
As TV 2 understands it, the police and PST are concerned about and concerned about a network around Arfan Bhatti. It is somewhat unclear how many people are in question, but it should be about “a bunch”.
Unknown people
Part of the police’s challenge is that in communication on the internet, both usernames and telephone numbers constantly appear, which are difficult to identify, but which they are concerned with gaining control of who is behind it.
PST now works in close collaboration with its colleagues in Europe.
– I do not want to comment on TV 2’s information, but I can confirm that PST is part of a close collaboration with security and intelligence services in Europe, which we also use now, says Trond Hugubakken, communications director at PST.
In recent days, several media outlets have mentioned how Arfan Bhatti, via what is to be his Facebook profile, has posted quotes about the murder of gays.
The profile was later shut down.
Dialogue on Pride
As far as TV 2 understands, hatred of Pride and of gays has been central to the dialogue between people PST associates with extremist Islamist circles in recent times.
This should also be one of the reasons why large events such as football matches and concerts have been held as normal, while the police have recommended the cancellation of Pride events.
– KAOTIC: This is what it looked like in Rosenkrantz gate in the minutes after the shooting on Saturday night. Two people were killed. Photo: TV 2 tips
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PST has on several occasions expressed concern about terrorism with simple means against soft targets, such as knife attacks, car attacks or shootings in crowds.
Exactly what PST now fears is unclear, but they have stated that they consider that Norway is now in an “unresolved and extraordinary threat situation”.
Hypothesis: Psychiatry
In addition to the terrorist trail, the police have a hypothesis that the background for the attack in Oslo may be that Matapour is mentally ill.
The accused’s defense counsel, lawyer John Christian Elden, has warned against drawing too quick conclusions related to the motive behind the attack in Oslo.
– It is important that no one draws conclusions against hate crime or terrorism before the case is investigated, the lawyer told TV 2 on Monday.
Elden believes that there is “much that pulls in other directions” than that the attack was motivated by extreme Islamist terror. The lawyer nevertheless believes that the trail towards is followed up.
The accused has so far not wanted to be questioned in the case. In recent days, TV 2 has tried to get in touch with Arfan Bhatti, but without success.
John Christian Elden, who has previously represented Bhatti and now defends Matapour, did not respond to our inquiry on Tuesday.
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