'It is wrong, as the police claim, that this was meant to be a small event. 'We are sorry that once again we have to say that a Pride event must be cancelled,' it said in a statement.

Oslo Pride, one of the backers of Monday's demonstration and the organiser of annual Pride celebrations that had been due to take place on Saturday, confirmed it would cancel the gathering.

Pride events should be delayed 'until further notice', since the queer community is considered part of the 'enemy' by extremist Islamists, National Police Chief Benedicte Bjoernland said in a statement.