On July 22nd, 2011 a bomb exploded in Regjeringskvartalet, the executive government quarter of Oslo at 15:22. Located outside the office of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, the attack killed eight people and wounded several others.
The second attack occurred within two hours on the island of Utøya in Tyrifjorden, Buskerud at a event held by youth organization AUF of the Norwegian Labour Party (AP). A gunman disguised as a policeman opened fire on the campers, killing 68 attendees. This was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in history and the worst violence the country had suffered since WWII.
The Norwegian Police Service has arrested Anders Behring Breivik, a 32-year-old Norwegian man who appears to have targeted the Prime Minister and camp for the left leaning politics. Police reports describe him as a right-wing extremist, Islamophobe and Christian fundamentalist although Breivik has described himself as "moderately religious." His future is yet to be decided.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg vowed in a memorial service on Sunday, July 24th that the attack would not hurt the Norwegian democracy, and said the proper answer to the violence was "more democracy, more openness, but not naivety". A girl from AUF who was interviewed by CNN said "If one man can show so much hate, think how much love we could show, standing together."
Despite these attacks, it is important to remember the loveliness of Norway and it's people. It is the time to support the country and exult the all the wonderful things about Norway.
It will take time to heal these wounds, but perhaps the best thing to do now is to exchange our feelings, thoughts and impressions about the attack, response and future.
What have been your thoughts
What was your initial response and how has it changed
Feel free to share what you are thinking in this forum as we all try to comprehend and process this enormous tragedy.
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