Justin Bieber's free concert Wednesday in Oslo, Norway did some serious damage.
While the Red Cross Norway's Facebook page said first aid was provided for 78 people and water was given to many dehydrated children, E! News talked to Camilla Bjorn, a VGTV reporter in Oslo, and she provided slightly different figures: According to local police, 19 girls were sent to the hospital and 49 fans from the concert were injured in one way or another because of the pressure and madness of the fans.
"No state of emergency was ever declared," Bjorn tells E! News. "However there has been a ton of critique towards official police and Universal Music [Bieber's label] because they were not prepared. They had not taken into consideration the chaos that could occur."
Bjorn explained that officials in Oslo, Norway did not really know who Justin Bieber was or how important he is to youth around the world.
Universal Music, the teen idol's label, issued a press release stating it "regrets strongly that some of those who were [at the] Justin concert had a bad experience."
"Fortunately no one was seriously injured," said a Universal Music exec, adding that despite this concert's negative publicity, the Biebs has shown the media he has a desire to "return to Norway and [perform] a new concert here."
Ola Stenberg, a VGTV news editor, said the "chaotic scene" was comparable to the excited fan reactions "we haven't seen since stars like Michael Jackson visited Norway."
Justin, of course, didn't want his devoted fans to hurt themselves. "for the show to happen u must all listen to the police," he tweeted Wednesday as the frenzy for his performance increased. "we are all concerned for your safety and i want what is best for u. please listen."
The 18-year-old pop star now has shows in Paris, Milan, Verona, Madrid, London, Cologne, Berlin, Mexico City, New York and Toronto.
He tweeted Thursday: "now off to another #secretshow but this time a little more intimate and romantic. #cityoflove #BELIEVE #AllAroundTheWorld promo #PARIS"
Wonder if "a little more intimate" means not overwhelmingly huge and out of control? We hope so. Stay safe out there, Beliebers.
â€"Reporting by Marcus Mulkin, Sharareh Drury, and Maureen Heaton
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