Ex-PMs in doubt over high-rise’s fate

Two former Norwegian prime ministers who also once worked in the government’s high-rise headquarters say they’re in doubt over whether the building should be torn down. Both call it a “good workplace” but concede that many considerations are at stake after it was badly damaged in last summer’s terrorist attacks. Kåre Willoch of the Conservative [...]

Government high-rise may be razed

The high-rise centerpiece of Norway’s bombed-out government headquarters may be torn down even if it’s found to be structurally sound, a government minister has confirmed. Security issues, costs and the concerns of those who had offices in the building will all play a role in the final decision. Rigmor Aasrud, the government minister from the [...]

Rebuilding efforts can take five years

State officials and construction experts estimate it can take as long as five years and cost NOK 6 billion (more than USD 1 billion) before Norway’s government has a permanent headquarters again. Rebuilding efforts after a terrorist’s bomb in July remain a daunting task. The government minister in charge, Rigmor Aasrud of the Labour Party, [...]

Library reopens after terrorist attacks

Oslo’s main public library, Deichmanske bibliotek, finally re-opened on Monday, more than two months after the neighboring government complex was struck by a terrorist’s bomb on July 22. The bombing caused major damage to the library and especially a glass partition between columns at its main entrance. Windows all along the library’s facade were also [...]

Flowers to remain over the weekend

City officials in Oslo have said they’ll let all the huge floral memorials that have sprung up all over town lie where they are until next week. And then they’ll “take good care” of the symbols of grief laid down with the flowers. The flowers started piling up outside the Oslo Cathedral last Saturday, the [...]

Bombed buildings may be saved

Norway’s government headquarters, heavily damaged in last week’s terrorist bombing, looks likely to be restored. Workers placed an enormous tarp over the side of the high-rise that housed the prime minister’s office and the justice ministry, as clean-up and assessment efforts continue one week after the blast. The tarp is meant to secure the surrounding [...]

Foreigners just don’t ‘get’ Norway

NEWS ANALYSIS: Sympathy for Norwegians who have lived through a violent nightmare in recent days has streamed in from around the world, but so has criticism of Norway in foreign media. As Norwegians tried to return to some form of normalcy nearly a week after two terrorist attacks, many were puzzled by the foreign journalists’ [...]

Commission to examine attacks

As Norway starts the healing process after last Friday’s terrorist attacks, the government announced it was forming a special commission to examine exactly what happened and gauge emergency response. The commission will be independent and later report its results to Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. “It’s import to clarify all aspects of these attacks in order [...]

Tourists not scared off

The summer tourism is at its height in Norway and the vast majority haven’t been scared off by last Friday’s bombing in downtown Oslo, or by a subsequent massacre on an island outside of town. Officials in the tourism industry haven’t seen any mass cancellations and some visitors have even extended their stays in a [...]

Premier hopes for a stronger Norway

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Wednesday that he hopes last week’s attacks on the government and a Labour Party summer camp will make Norway stronger, and he thinks the response from Norwegians so far indicates it will. Stoltenberg, meeting with reporters Wednesday afternoon, called the attacks by a fellow Norwegian an “attack [...]

Labour may draw sympathy vote

The Norwegian Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet, Ap) is likely to enjoy a new boost of support following the recent terrorist attacks in which it was a major target. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who leads the party and Norway’s Labour-led government, is also more popular than ever, according to a new public opinion poll. The poll conducted [...]

Oslo finds strength in flower power

Instead of responding with hate and calls for revenge, the vast majority of Norwegians are recovering from attacks on their capital and their youth last week with flowers, hugs, moments of silence and a series of memorial services. An enormous gathering on Monday prompted another spontaneous display of support and solidarity: Norwegians used the roses [...]

Florists ran short, or out, of roses

UPDATED: With huge demand for roses from grieving Norwegians, flower shops have been doing brisk business and some ran out of stock after memorials were held all over the country on Monday. Demand was heaviest in Oslo, where several hundred thousand roses have since found their way onto the streets and even into local neighborhoods. [...]

Leading a nation through crisis

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg received a hero’s welcome when he walked on stage at Monday’s huge and historic memorial service in front of Oslo’s City Hall. An estimated 150,000 Norwegians had gathered and the roar from the crowd seemed to startle even the veteran politician and Labour Party leader himself, who has led Norway’s government [...]

Government gets back to work

Around 2,000 government employees in Norway are beginning to work out of hastily arranged new quarters, after their offices were destroyed in Friday’s bombing attack in the capital. The sheer logistics of setting up shop for the country’s top ministries are daunting, and the search is on for new permanent office space. A government crisis [...]

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