Arfan Bhatti denies guilt in appeal case over 2022 Oslo terror attack
Arfan Bhatti has appeared in court again for his role in the terror attack on London Pub in June 2022. He continues to deny criminal responsibility.
Bhatti before appeals court: denies involvement in serious terror offence
Arfan Bhatti has appeared in court again – this time before Borgarting appellate court – after receiving Norway's strictest sentence in January. This is reported by Google News DK — Crime (da) with reference to TV 2.
In January, Bhatti was sentenced to 30 years' preventive detention for involvement in serious terror offences in connection with shootings at the venues London Pub and Per på hjørnet in Oslo in June 2022. Two people lost their lives, and nine others were injured in the attack. Zaniar Matapour, who according to the court carried out the attack itself, was previously sentenced to the same penalty.
Bhatti appealed the verdict immediately. The case is now being heard again.
Appeared in light blue shirt – denied criminal responsibility
At 09:19, Bhatti entered the courtroom. He greeted his two defence lawyers, John Christian Elden and Bernt Heiberg, and embraced Inger Zadig. He was wearing dark trousers and a light blue shirt, with short hair and a shaved face.
When the appellate judge Kjørli asked whether Bhatti acknowledged criminal responsibility, he answered bluntly: "No."
The prosecution's case
State prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø read out the serious charges. The prosecution contends that Bhatti participated in planning the terror attack, that he procured weapons for Matapour, and that he was responsible for sending a pledge of allegiance to the terror organisation IS – with the aim that the organisation would claim responsibility for the attack.
The day after the attack, Bhatti allegedly sent the pledge of allegiance and a passport photograph of Matapour to what he believed was a representative of IS's communications division. In reality, the recipient was an agent working for the Norwegian intelligence service.
"The most serious since 22 July"
Prosecutor Aud Kinsarvik began her presentation by stating that the attack is the most serious in Norway since the terror attacks on 22 July 2011.
– Matapour shot at random people at the venues London Pub and Per på hjørnet, said Kinsarvik.
– The attack created fear and insecurity among many – both those who were present and those who were not.
When the prosecution played surveillance footage from the attack, the courtroom became completely silent.
Schedule for the coming weeks
According to the schedule, which TV 2 has had access to, the first court day starts with opening statements from both parties. Subsequently, Espen Evjenth, head of the support group 25 June, will testify.
The remaining days of this week are set aside for Bhatti's own testimony. Next week, it is planned that Zaniar Matapour will give evidence. Several witnesses will not appear physically in court; instead, audio recordings of their testimony from the district court will be played. Thirty court days have been set aside for the case, which is being heard in room 250 in Oslo district court, although the case is formally being conducted before Borgarting appellate court.
Background: Wanted, arrested and extradited
Arfan Bhatti was subject to an international arrest warrant by Norwegian police approximately one month after the terror attack. Pakistani police arrested him in September 2022, and he remained in custody in Pakistan until he was extradited to Norway in May 2024. He has since been held in custody in Norway and has throughout denied criminal responsibility.
Source: Google News DK — Crime (da)