Panic in Oslo: a young man shot in the city’s largest shopping center and thousands were evacuated

In a context in which Oslothe capital of Norwayhas the world’s attention for the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machadoan episode as dangerous as it was curious occurred in a shopping center in the city.

According to the AP agency, on Monday A 19-year-old young man was arrested after firing a shot with a shotgun inside the shopping center Storo Storsenter. There were no injuries and the establishment, although it was evacuated at that time, reopened a few hours later.

Police said in a statement that the shopping center was already secured. Euronews reported that The man acted alone and apparently had no intention of hurting anyone..

The incident commander, Tomm Bergertold public broadcaster NRK that the man had a knife and a bat and fired a shotgun at the ceiling.

Storo Storsenter is the largest shopping center in Oslo, with around 140 shops and cafes.

Uncertainty over the Nobel Prize for María Corina Machado

Doubts about the presence of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony increased this Tuesday after the cancellation of a press conference scheduled in Oslo.

According to police, the suspect entered the building and fired one shot from a shotgun at the ceiling. Photo: Xinhua

Dozens of Venezuelans in exile traveled to the Norwegian capital to accompany the 58-year-old opposition member who has been living in hiding since August 2024 and who has not been seen in public since January.

The Nobel Institute had announced over the weekend the presence of Machado to receive the prize, which includes a gold medal, a diploma and a sum of 1.2 million dollars.

But on Tuesday he initially postponed the appearance scheduled for 1:00 p.m. local time (12:00 p.m. GMT). and finally canceled it.

The shooting occurred in Storo Storsenter, one of the largest shopping centers in Oslo. Photo: Xinhua

«Maria Corina Machado herself has said how difficult it has been to come to Norway,» declared the spokesperson for the Nobel Institute, Erik Aasheim. «We hope he will attend the Nobel ceremony» on Wednesday at Oslo City Hall, he added.

Machado’s former campaign manager made it clear on Tuesday that the opponent has already left Venezuela, but will return.