Two people were confirmed killed and more than 21 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in shootings near bars in central Oslo, Norway, early Saturday.
The Norwagian police says the case is being treated as a “terrorist attack”.
The Norwagian Police said a man suspected to be the brain behind the attacks which occurred around 1:00 am (2300 GMT Friday) in three locations, including a gay bar, close together in the centre of the Norwegian capital has been arrested.
A statement from the police reads, “The police are investigating the events as a terrorist attack.”
Due to the alleged terror attack in the normally peaceful city, a pride match that was slated to take place in the capital on Saturday afternoon was suspended.
The organisers of the event wrote on their Facebook page that all events that are linked to the pride match has been called off following suggestions from the capital police.
The post reads: “All events linked to Oslo Pride have been cancelled following clear recommendations by police.”
The Police confirmed that two people had died and 21 others sustaining varying degrees of injuries, including 10 seriously injured in the attacks.
According to the Norwegian Police, the suspect arrested was a Norwegian national of Iranian decent.
Police official Tore Barstad while commenting on the unfolding event to the press said that everything indicated that there was only one person behind the attack. He also said that the information about the attack got to the police early Saturday morning and the police swung into action immediately leading to the arrest of the suspect.
He said: “Now everything indicates that there was only one person who committed this act.
“Police presence was boosted throughout the capital to deal with other incidents.
“Police received the first reports at 1:14 am and the suspect was arrested five minutes later.”
The shootings happened near the London Pub gay club, the Herr Nilsen jazz club and a takeaway food outlet.
Heavily armed police equipped with bulletproof vests and helmets were patrolling the scene of the shootings.
Some eyewitnesses gave detailed accounts of what went on.
A woman told the Verdens Hang newspaper that the shooter looked very determined about where he was aiming and when she realized that, she ran for safety. She also disclosed that a blessing man was lying on the ground.
Another witness quoted by the paper mentioned the use of an automatic weapon even though the police did not confirm it.
He said: “There were a lot of injured people on the ground who had head injuries.”
An NRK radio journalist present at the time of the shooting said that the shooter arrived with a bag from which he pulled out a weapon and started firing.
Eight people were taken to hospital and six others were taken care of by a medical service.
According to Barstad, some victims were seriously injured while others sustained light injury.
More photos from the terror attack
This peaceful country had been a victim of violent attacks before, especially the one that happened on July 22, 2011 when right-winger extremist Anders Behring Breivik attacked and killed 77 people.
He first detonated a bomb near the government headquarters in Oslo, which led to the death of eight people.
After that, he disguised himself as a policeman and went on a shooting spree at a summer camp for left-wing youth on the island of Utoya, which also led to the death of another 69 people, most of which are teenagers.
Anders Behring Breivik is a Norwegian anti-immigration domestic terrorist that was against the immigration of foreigners into the country.
He was later arrested and charged to court for terrorism and man slaughter of which he was found guilty and jailed for 21 years.
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