No Extra Security Needed for Oslo Pride Despite Orlando Attack

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg believes there is no need to increase security at the forthcoming Oslo Pride events, despite the recent mass shooting in a gay nightclub in the US city of Orlando, Florida.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Sunday, US national Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured 53 others at Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando. The Orlando massacre has become the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States, surpassing the death toll from the 2007 incident at Virginia Tech university, which claimed 32 lives.

"I don't think it is necessary to have extra security precautions, but it is a decision that the police must make," she told TV2 broadcaster on Sunday evening.

She also called the Orlando mass shooting, which took place in the early morning hours on Sunday, a "hate crime" aimed at the gay community, adding that Norway was "horrified" by the "senseless brutality against innocent people."

"Unfortunately there are a lot of hate crimes against homosexuals throughout the world and this attack was aimed at a place for homosexuals," the prime minister added.

Oslo Pride, a large festival for Norway's lesbian and gay population, with concerts, art exhibits, shows, and political debates, is due to be held in the country's capital from June 17 to June 26.