Arfan Bhatti is facing a retrial, charged with complicity in the terrorist attack in Oslo on 25 June 2022, in which two people were killed and several injured.
After nearly three years of investigation, the indictment against Bhatti links him to the perpetrator, Zaniar Matapour, who has already been convicted of the attack. According to Kristine Meek, the author of a book about the attack, there was a clear joy of reunion between Bhatti and Matapour during Matapour’s trial.
Arfan Bhatti has a long history of criminality and radicalisation. He went from being a violent juvenile delinquent to becoming a known extreme Islamist. He has previously been charged with a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Oslo in 2006 and planning attacks on the US and Israeli embassies.
In 2008, he was convicted of conspiracy to cause damage to the synagogue, but acquitted of the actual terrorism charge. He was also acquitted of attempted murder in a separate case.
The prosecution believes the 2022 attack took place after joint planning and assistance from Bhatti. Evidence linking Bhatti to the attack and Matapour includes Bhatti’s social media activity prior to the attack, where he expressed hateful attitudes towards homosexuals.
There was also close contact and discussions between Bhatti and Matapour, as well as the sharing of violent videos in a chat group. Bhatti allegedly shared a detailed guide to Oslo Pride shortly before the attack, and Matapour had Bhatti’s contact information.
Police believe it is likely that Bhatti was the user “Shaheen47”, who allegedly sent Matapour’s oath of allegiance after the attack to what turned out to be an intelligence officer.
Bhatti has been in PST’s spotlight for years due to his actions, extreme opinions and ability to influence others. Among other things, he has advocated the introduction of Sharia law in Norway.
PST’s national threat assessment for 2025 identifies the terrorist threat from extreme Islamists as the most serious, and emphasises the risk of experienced extremists influencing vulnerable young people.
After the 2022 attack, Bhatti stayed in Pakistan. Norway submitted a formal extradition request in September 2022. Despite the fact that Norway and Pakistan do not have an extradition treaty, Bhatti was extradited to Norway in April 2024 and has been in custody ever since.
The trial of Arfan Bhatti for complicity in the Oslo terror attacks will now determine whether the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient to prove his involvement in the planning of the attack.