Norway and most of the other Nordic countries are due to come to a standstill at 12:00 noon on Monday, after Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg called for a moment of silent tribute to the victims of Friday’s terrorist attacks by a right-wing extremist.
Stoltenberg, members of the government and royal family and many others were to gather inside the newly renovated Aula, the historic auditorium inside the original buildings of the University of Oslo’s downtown campus. The Aula, which earlier was the site of the annual Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies, is richly decorated with murals by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch and often used for formal and official gatherings.
On Monday it will be the site of another tribute as Norway keeps trying to come to grips with the bloodiest and most evil attacks on the country since the Nazi occupation of World War II.
Public transport will stand still, business is due to cease and motorists are expected to stop their cars where they are as they remember the 93 victims of the bombing of government headquarters in Oslo and a subsequent massacre at a Labour Party summer camp on an island in the Tyri Fjord. The death toll is expected to rise, with as many as 40 persons still missing as of Monday morning.
The governments of Sweden, Denmark and Iceland have also declared a moment of silence at noon.
Several other memorials and marches are being planned in Oslo this week and elsewhere around the country.
Views and News staff
