Murder and terrorism suspect Zaniar Matapour, 42, stopped interrogating police on Sunday. He did not allow the police to record the interrogation with audio and video, as long as it was not broadcast in full.

Defense attorney Jon Christian Elden said the defendant after the Oslo shootings refused to explain himself to police on Sunday.

– There’s a very brief interrogation today too. Police have spent more than half an hour trying to convince the accused that they do not want to manipulate his explanation. He did not accept that answer and exercised his right not to give an explanation to the police, Elden told VG.

According to Elden, the suspects denied that the police were conducting an interrogation.

– All this time the police insisted on recording the interrogation via audio and video. “My client has refused to be picked up on audio and video, unless these will be made publicly available as a whole,” Elden said.

– Why is he negative about the recorded interrogation?

– Because he said he was afraid the police would manipulate what he said, partly to cut it off, partly to change the content of the explanation as it looks like it’s not, says Elden.

He emphasized that it was up to his client whether to be interrogated or not.

Two people died in a shooting in Oslo on Saturday night. 21 people were injured.

Police said early Sunday that some of the injured had been discharged from hospital and none of the injuries were life-threatening.

Don’t weaken

At a press conference on Sunday, police stated that Matapour would be transferred to prison on Sunday.

Police lawyer Børge Enoksen said that a medical examination had been carried out and the accused had been released.

Enoksen stated that the defendant’s acquaintance and background were very important to the investigation.

“Nothing has come to light that undermines the allegations,” Enoksen said.

Not found guilty

Elden said his client has not explained his case or taken a stand on the guilty question.

– He has not been asked about criminal guilt or innocence, because he is not yet willing to start explaining himself, said Elden.

He insists that this means Matapour has also said nothing about his motives. Elden stated that his client also had little to say about the incident to him.

– Very unclear whether there is a motive. It also means that one has to be very careful about speculating on the reasons why this is happening, he said.

According to Elden, the court must immediately appoint an expert for a judicial assessment of the accused.

Contact Bhatti

According to VG information, Zaniar Matapour (42) was suspended in connection with the SIAN demonstrations this spring – along with central Islamic figure Arfan Bhatti.

Elden also became a defender for Bhatti.

When asked by VG, he said it was fine to keep both. He says police have not asked for any relation between Matapour and Bhatti.

– There are now no suspicions or accusations against Bhatti in this case. Nor had he been to Oslo in the past month. It’s a little hard to relate based on media speculation about it. Police and prosecutors have not speculated about it, he said.