Arfan Bhatti Sentenced to 30 Years for Oslo Pride Terror Plot

A major Norwegian court has sentenced Arfan Bhatti to 30 years of forvaring, a form of preventive detention, for his role in orchestrating the deadly Oslo Pride attack. The Oslo District Court delivered the verdict on January 16, convicting Bhatti of terrorism for his part in the shooting that targeted the LGBTQ+ community. The court found he played a key role in planning the assault, which left two people dead and over twenty injured. The sentence means Bhatti, described by Norwegian media as one of the country's most frequently acquitted men, could potentially remain imprisoned for the rest of his life. Reuters has confirmed the Islamist militant's guilt in the terror plot. The ruling concludes a lengthy legal process for one of Norway's most significant terrorism cases in recent years. The attack, which took place in the capital's nightlife district, shocked the nation and prompted widespread debates on security and extremism. Forvaring sentences are indefinite and reviewed periodically, with release contingent on a court determining the individual no longer poses a danger. The verdict brings a measure of judicial closure to victims and the broader community affected by the violence. Norwegian authorities have emphasized their continued focus on combating extremist threats.