“It is nearly two days since Norway was hit by the worst atrocity it has seen since the second world war—On Utoya, and in Oslo. It seems like an eternity. These have been hours, days, and nights filled with shock, despair, anger, and weeping,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to the victims of Friday’s attacks in an emotional memorial service at Oslo Cathedral on Sunday.
The country known to the world as one of the most peaceful is still reeling from the act of right-wing extremist, Anders Breivik, who blew apart the main government building, housing the prime minister’s office among others, and opened fire on members of the governing party’s youth league at their yearly summer camp on an island two hours later. His plan to bomb two more buildings was foiled after police arrested him on the island.
So far, 93 deaths have been confirmed, 7 from the bombing and 86 from the shooting spree. Thirty people are still in critical condition at the nation’s leading Oslo University Hospital. With several people still listed as missing, the death toll it is feared will rise.
’Pure Evilness’
A far-right extremist who believes that what he did was “necessary,” Breivik’s target was the governing leftist and pro-immigration Labor Party. In a YouTube video and a 1,500-page manifesto published online the same day as the attacks, Breivik expressed hatred toward the Muslim presence in Europe, leftists, and multiculturalists.
Breivik describes his ideology as cultural conservatism, seeing it as his goal to “influence the society and the way it is governed,” said lawyer Geir Lippestad according to newspaper VG. Parts of the writings were copied from those of the unabomber Ted Kaczynski.
Adrian Pracon, a 21-year-old who survived the Utoya Island with a gunshot wound in the shoulder, said during the ordeal he came across a teary 11-year-old on his desperate run to escape from the island. “He came and told me that his father died,” Pracon told national broadcaster NRK.
Continued: “The situation was so chaotic that he just walked further.”
With no boats to escape the island, trapped youths took off their colorful clothes, hid in the bushes, under cliffs, or ran toward the beach to try to swim away. According to reports from survivors, Breivik kept shooting and shouting, “You are going to die.”
“He started shooting at us, and shot and shot until no one moved. I was shot in the thigh, but acted like I was dead. I heard him refill ammunition, and that’s the worst moment in my life,” said 16-year-old Ingvild Stensrud who played dead while lying between dead friends, reported NRK.
A Small But Strong Nation
In the face of tragedy, Norwegians are standing in solidarity.
The city of Oslo, almost emptied for an entire day after authorities ordered people to keep away on Friday, but Sunday was a gathering point for tearful citizens lightening up the town with candles, flowers, and cards.
“I strongly believe that freedom is stronger than fear. I strongly believe in an open Norwegian democracy and society. I strongly believe in the opportunity to live freely and safely in our nation,” King Harald told the nation, as broadcast by NRK.
At the ceremony at Oslo Cathedral, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, fighting back tears, helped 7-year-old Princess Ingrid Alexandra and 5-year-old Prince Sverre Magnus light candles.
Sunday night, tens of thousands people gathered in front of Oslo City Hall for a parade, a rally and a night to stand together in solidarity.
Read Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s full speach.
