Nearly all the survivors of the July 22, 2011 terror attacks have now received entitlements for the trauma they suffered. 2013 saw the highest amount of criminal injury compensation payments in Norwegian history, with more than NOK 500 million (USD 81.3 million) distributed.
“The huge sum is primarily due to the processing of cases after July 22, particularly issues of redress,” Ivar Andre Holm from the Criminal Injuries Compensation office (Kontoret for voldsoffererstatning) told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). “The level of these amounts has meant there has been almost a doubling of payments.”
Anders Behring Breivik was convicted of killing 77 people after he attacked a young Labour Party convention on the island of Utøya and blew up government buildings in central Oslo. Compensation ranged between NOK 600,000 for victims who suffered life threatening injuries on Utøya, to NOK 100,000 for adult siblings of those killed in the bombing.
Jorid Holstad Nordmelan escaped Utøya physically unharmed, but one of her friends was killed and another seriously injured. Nordmelan received NOK 300,000 compensation, but told NRK the amount doesn’t matter. “The criminal injuries compensation for me represents a recognition of the trauma we’ve been through, and that it’s actually seen as a trauma and not just a painful experience.”
newsinenglish.no staff
