Police in Tønsberg have arrested two suspects in their 20s, charged with spray-painting a swastika on the city’s memorial to victims of the deadly attacks by a right-wing extremist on July 22, 2011. The vandalism was carried out on the eighth anniversary of the attacks on Monday.
“The two are arrested and charged with damaging a memorial,” operations leader André Kråkenes of the Southeast Police District told state broadcaster NRK after police announced the arrests on social media.
Kråkenes said the police investigation into the vandalism would continue, “but we don’t have any additional suspects.”
The vandalism was quickly branded as both “shocking” and “disgusting” and an extra burden on still-grieving families of the 77 people killed in the July 22 attacks. Many were gathering on Monday for memorial ceremonies around the country.
An ultra right-wing extremist is serving what’s likely to be a life sentence after first bombing Norway’s government headquarters and then gunning down young members of the Labour Party attending an annual summer camp on the island of Utøya. He blamed Labour and the government for having allowed, in his opinion, too many immigrants into Norway.
newsinenglish.no staff
