The World Mourns With Norway
It was around 3:25 pm. The explosion was immense. My office felt like it contracted, expanded and windows nearby were blown all over the building. I walked out and towards the direction of the explosion which is just some few meters away from the Prime Minister`s office and other government buildings to see what was happening. Dust, smoke and people bleeding were what I saw. Peaceful Norway was under attack.
Police have charged Anders Behring Breivik, a 32-year-old Norwegian man, over both attacks. Oslo police say Breivik's website indicates he is a right-wing Christian fundamentalist.
The terrorist and mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik has had solid contact with the extreme-right group English Defence League (EDL), reports The Telegraph UK. Prime Minister David Cameron has said that he takes this allegation very seriously, and has summoned his security advisers to discuss the situation. Mr Cameron has expressed outrage over the attacks in Norway, and pledged Britain's help in overcoming the "evil" behind them.
Not only did Norway gather on Monday to commemorate the victims of last week`s terrorist attacks, the world stood side by side with Norway to hold a minute's silence in respect for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Norway. The assassination was a brutal attack on the youth in Norway. At a press conference on Monday, the police announced that the death toll after the Utøya-shooting is 68. 57 of those killed after the shooting on Utøya were found on the island, 10 were found in the waters around the island or the mainland. The number of death after the bomb blast in downtown Oslo on Monday has been upgraded from seven to eight. Thus, a total of 76 people were killed by the terror action on the 22nd July.
One of the surgeons who treated shooting victims from Utøya, Dr Colin Poole, believes special bullets were used to inflict maximum damage. He believes that these bullets give great destruction on the surface of the muscle tissue, instead of going deeper, or through the body.
After the bomb in Oslo and the massacre on Utøya, several who share ideology with Anders Behring Breivik, the murderer, have nevertheless strongly condemned the pain he has inflicted on the innocent. But there are those who take this opportunity to create conspiracy theories. Already over the weekend, extreme online debaters began to argue that it was the Norwegian government that was behind the attacks, and that they try to discredit those who are opposed to a multi-cultural society. Others deny that the incident on Utøya ever happened, and that everything is a play to create fear for the extreme right.
On Monday evening, a teeming crowd gathered at the City Hall in Oslo. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and the people met in a huge protest against terror, hatred and mass killings that took place both at the government ministries and Utøya; the Island that hosted the Labour Party youth. The Prime Minister said in his appeal that he is infinitely happy that people in a bad time run out on the streets with flowers and lights to protect the democracy the country has enjoyed since World War 2. Norwegians by this protest showed that they stand together and are not afraid of terrorism. The people went hand in hand to show love and concern for those whose dear ones were lost, and to show respect for those who were sadly murdered.
The strongest impression was perhaps made by Labour Youth League leader, Eskil Pedersen. He was in the midst of the attack on Utøya Friday evening. The young man trembled in his voice when he made his appeal, to great applause. And among those who listened were former Prime Minister of Norway, Ms Gro Harlem Brundtland, who, according to police intelligence, was one of the goals of the massacre at Utøya. Ms Brundtland visited Utøya just hours before the massacre took place. On Monday, she stood next to Mr Jens Stoltenberg with a rose in her hands, just like thousands of other attendees.
Crown Prince Haakon was the first to make to touching appeal at 19.00 hours. “Tonight the streets are filled with love. We have chosen to respond to cruelty with proximity, chosen to meet hatred with unity. We have chosen to show what we stand for. Norway is a country in mourning. We think of all those who have suffered losses, who are missing, all that made a heroic effort to save lives and restore our security and our leaders who have been put on the difficult attempt in recent days. We want a Norway where we live together in communion with the freedom to think and express ourselves, where we see differences as opportunities, for freedom is stronger than fear,” said the Crown Prince who quite recently visited Ghana.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was on the podium afterwards: “The crowd I see today, and the warmth I feel from all over the country, makes me confident in my case, evil can kill a human, but never defeat a whole people. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg added that it is "too early to say anything about motives. Norway will stand together and will not be bombed into silence. Our fathers and mothers promised each other "No more 9th April ". We say "No more 22nd July ", the country's prime minister said.
The teeming crowd that gathered in Oslo on Monday evening tells me that everyone is deeply moved by what has happened. People need to be together. Police estimated that over 150,000 people shown up. The crowd of people packed the City Hall to capacity, a crowd the city has never seen before. This was a strong and touching moment. There was a lot of silence, but also a lot of warmth, creating a very special atmosphere. After the bomb attack on the ministries and killings on Utøya the country is changed forever. Life will never be the same. Norway has been shaken by a horrific terrorist attack. Now it is important that we all work systematically to ensure that Norway will be an even more cohesive society in the future.
Desmond Frimpong, Oslo Norway
