Norway was left stunned following two terror attacks on Friday 22 July 2011. First, a bomb, suspected to have been in a car or van, exploded outside the Prime Minister's office in the centre of the capital city of Oslo. Other nearby government buildings were also affected. Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was not injured in the attack which happened at 3.30pm Norwegian time. Seven people were killed in the incident with several more injured, ten seriously. Fortunately, it was a holiday so the city centre was much quieter than would be normal for a Friday afternoon. However, television footage and You Tube videos show the damage done to buildings with glass everywhere and papers flying out of the damaged buildings.
Gunman Attacks Young People On Utoya Island
Just as the country was reeling in shock at this attack, reports began coming in of an attack by a gunman on an island called Utoya where a group of young people were enjoying a summer camp. The group are members of the Labour Party youth movement and this is a regular summer event. The gunman is believed to have approached the island in a boat disguised as a policeman. It is thought that perhaps he was intending to plant another bomb but was spotted and opened fire with an automatic weapon. The young people were trapped on the island, some desperately calling for help on their mobile phones. Some jumped into the freezing water of the fjord to try to swim to the mainland. Latest figures say that at least ten people were killed by the gunman with the figure expected to rise as police search the water for more victims or survivors.
Eventually a police SWAT team managed to reach the island and a man was arrested at the scene. He was described as over six foot tall, with blonde hair and spoke perfect Norwegian. Police are working on the theory that he was also seen near the scene of the Oslo bombing or was otherwise involved in the planning and execution of the bombing.
Motive For Terror Attacks Unclear
The motive for the attacks is unclear and no group has claimed responsibility. However, some theories have been mooted such as Norway's involvement in Afghanistan, the decision by a Norwegian judge to file terror charges against an Iraqi born cleric after he threatened to kill Norwegians if he was deported and the fact that the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in 2006 were reprinted in Norwegian newspapers. Most theorists seem to be leaning towards it being an Al-Qaeda related attack. It would seem though, that choosing to bomb government related buildings on a day when few people would be in the area does not fit into the usual Islamic terrorist style attacks. The attack on the island on innocent young people, aged between 15 and 25 is perhaps the most frightening thing for a country that has never suffered a terror attack. The police are also focusing on the possibility that it could be a domestically –related attack.
Norwegian Prime Minister Appeals For Calm
The Norwegian Prime Minister and other members of the police and security forces called for people to stay away from the centre of Oslo and to remain in their homes. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is quoted by the BBC as saying “We are a small nation and a proud nation. No-one will bomb us to silence, no-one will shoot us to silence”.
The city of Oslo and the country of Norway may only be small in world affairs, but the whole world will feel their pain and outrage at this attack that has been perpetrated against them.
Amanda Payne - By Amanda Payne: Topic Editor for European Affairs. Amanda is a freelance writer with a special interest in Spain and all things ...
