Plans unveiled for a ‘new’ Utøya

As Norway’s maximum prison term officially took effect for convicted terrorist Anders Behring Breivik just before the weekend, the leader of the Labour Party youth group that Breivik attacked was unveiling plans for how it planned to redevelop its island of Utøya. Breivik killed 69 persons on the island last year, and youth group AUF [...]

Secrecy can stymie Storting’s probe

As more examination of the poor response to last year’s terrorist attacks gets underway in Parliament (Storting) this week, critics are lashing out at a move to keep secret what several top government officials actually told a commission investigating the response. The secrecy, they claim, is totally at odds with the government’s own call for [...]

‘Should see what we can do better’

Opposition parties in Parliament had expected a humble admission from Justice Minister Knut Storberget that mistakes were made during the response to the terror attacks of July 22. They got one, of sorts, when Storberget addressed Parliament on Thursday. Both Storberget and Defense Minister Grete Faremo had been called in to answer a long series [...]

Labour Party membership soars

The bomber and gunman who attacked Norway’s Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) and the government it leads last summer wanted to cripple the party but the opposite has occurred. Labour is instead more vigorous and popular than ever, with new figures showing membership up 40 percent so far this year in Oslo alone. Newspaper Dagsavisen reported Tuesday [...]

Traumatic times linger after attacks

NEWS ANALYSIS: Sunday marked 100 days since Norway was attacked by a home-grown, right-wing extremist at 3:25 on the afternoon of July 22nd. The trauma after the terror he unleashed lingers among survivors, rescue personnel, government officials and many others, who now dread all the memories his trial will dredge up. Norwegian media have been [...]

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 [...]

Mourning monarch topped memorial

The skies cried yet again over Oslo, and King Harald choked up as well, when 6,700 survivors of last month’s terrorist attacks in Norway gathered for a National Memorial Ceremony to honor victims and their loved ones. Millions more followed the ceremony from home, since it was broadcast live on all major radio and TV [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

Terror indictments loom

Norway’s police intelligence unit PST (Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste) is moving forward with its case against three men suspected of planning terrorist acts, and all can reportedly expect to be indicted. Suspects Mikael Davud, a Uighur from northwestern China, and Shawan SS Bujak, a Kurd from Iraq remain in custody while a third suspect, David Jakobsen, formerly [...]

Norway welcomes bin Laden death

Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre has hailed the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden as “a pleasing breakthrough in the fight against terror,” while Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg warned that “the fight against terrorism is not over.” Speaking to news agency NTB, Støre said, “I praise the American action that led to the [...]

Terror cell probe hits crucial phase

An international probe of a terrorism case connecting Norway with the UK and the US is coming to a head, with authorities keen to gain access to US evidence related to an alleged Norwegian terror cell. Newspaper Aftenposten reports that the Norwegian police intelligence service (Politiets sikkerhetstjeneste, PST) has requested information from the US’ Central [...]

US blasts Norway’s anti-terror efforts, minister rejects criticism

Norwegian Justice Minister Knut Storberget reacted strongly on Tuesday to critical remarks about Norway’s anti-terrorism efforts made by the US ambassador to Norway and revealed in documents made available by WikiLeaks. The documents, reported by newspaper VG and its website VG Nett on Tuesday, draw more unwanted and potentially embarrassing attention to the US Embassy [...]

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