Massive Explosion Rocks Oslo

[Cobraroll 138]

He went to Prague, the Czech Republic, to aquire police insignia for a uniform he bought legally on the Net.

Also, he published a manifesto that was sent to several politicians in Europe (as far as I've managed to gather, mostly high-profile right-wing extremists) just before the attacks. It's a 1500 page mishmash of excerpts from various other manifestos, most notably the Una Bomber's, and "terror for dummies" - instructions on how to acquire various things such as explosives legally without anybody raising an eyebrow (for instance, he bought a farm to explain the need for six tons of ammoniumnitrate). It really shines through that this man is an absolute freak and a madman. He has even admitted everything in police interrogations, and is said to have been calm throughout the entire procedure. I'm no supporter of death penalty, and this has changed nothing. Death is too easy for such a monster. Rip his fingers off and break his back, so that he's dependant on a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Then he can have his years of confinement.

If you trust good ol' Google Translate, try either of these addresses and read what's been written about the tragedy so far:

www.ap.no

www.vg.no

www.db.no

www.nrk.no

Three large Norwegian papers and our national broadcaster, respectively.

  Edited July 24, 2011 by Cobraroll  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Here is the BBC coverage of today's service in Oslo's Cathedral.

The king looked stricken, and the PM wasn't in much better form.

[chicah 20]

"If one man can show this much hate, imagine the love we can all show together." - Female member of AUF to CNN.

[Duke87 1,070]

This article by the CBC

A search of the suspect's home and his Facebook postings turned up suggestions of right-wing and anti-Muslim political leanings

{...}

The author of the diatribe {...} vows that the European elite, "multiculturalists" and "enablers of Islamization" will be punished for their "treasonous acts."

Ah, so even if it wasn't a "Muslim" terrorist group, what I said before about tensions over immigration is still relevant. And perhaps accurate.

It's an interesting problem. America has been a land of immigrants basically from the beginning and while we're not perfect at it we do have a couple centuries' worth of experience dealing with immigration. But Europe has, invasions ans conquests notwithstanding, always more or less been a collection of fairly homogeneous societies and has only much more recently had to confront the whole idea of trying to get along with nextdoor neighbors who are of a different heritage. Naturally, the road is bumpy.

  Edited July 24, 2011 by Duke87  

[chicah 20]

Please, Duke. It is an insult to everyone who died in this incomprehensible tragedy to blame immigration and immigrants. Our nation is mourning, and we stand together - regardless of skin colour or religion. We do not need people like you to try to split us and destroy us. Nationalism killed at least 93 people on friday.

We will never forget.

[Meg 368]

I don't believe Duke was blaming immigration and immigrants. If I understand the news reports correctly, they were the gunman's motives.

According to this article:

Norway treatise says 'indigenous Europeans' must be punished for 'cultural suicide'

The writings apparently by Anders Behring Breivik, the suspect in the twin terrorist attacks, highlight a trend of rising right-wing extremism that has been intensified by demographic changes in Northern Europe.

Reporting from Oslo—

He wanted to ignite "a revolution," one that would upend contemporary Norwegian and European society. The goal: to purge the continent of Muslims and punish the "indigenous Europeans" who had failed to protect their nations from "cultural suicide."

. . .

[Timmystwin 201]

Dukes right, the immigration has caused it, even if it wasnt their fault. He did it due to that. Shame that he sees his own countrymen as worse than the people he hates. Shows how weird his thoughts were.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Little Hitler denied his platform.

From what I have seen of the manifesto this criminal published, and his subsequent behavior, the courts are quite right to deny any contact with the media for him. A full investigation of his party and all associates is called for. Let us remember that imprisonment will only give him opportunity to write his complete version of Mein Kampf. This leaf on the tree of life has reached its cut off date. 21 years is not long enough. He should be imprisoned in solitary confinement for the rest of his life.

I gather that the Norwegian justice system does not allow consecutive sentences.

Worthy of note: Germany recently exhumed Rudolf Hess, cremated the remains, and scattered them at sea. His grave was being used as a shrine for neo-Nazis.

In many languages the word "stranger" sometimes means someone from the next village. I have often thought that we are fairly parochial on this continent, but the Europeans are even more so. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

An afterthought: You don't suppose this could be a crime against humanity?

[Glenni 1,444]

Finally some good news, the police seemed to have done a small error at counting in Utøya, never the less the actual count there is 68. Though, the fact still remains that 76 people were killed in oslo and Utøya that day, it is still just as big of a tragedy.

An extra, gatherings/markings from cities, towns, and villages around Norway:

The city of Bergen, 70 000 met up, 300 000 live in the city:

Stavanger: Almost 100 000 gathered there, Stavanger and it's metro has a population of 200 000

Oslo: It's said that masses of people between 150 000 to 200 000 gathered.

Levanger:

Trondheim: 40 000 gathered in this city, perhaps a bit low, but it was pouring down quite a lot at the time.

Tromsø:

Kristiansand:

Ålesund:

Stryn:

Molde:

Drammen:

Harstad:

Skien:

Stjørdal:

Sandefjord:

Fredrikstad:

Lillehammer:

  Edited July 25, 2011 by Glenni  

[TowerDude 2,186]

Beautiful, It warms my heart to see a whole country like that united against fools like that guy even his own Dad hates him know... I understand ....

[Boggy1 45]

I love Norway, right now. Their strength and unity is something the entire world should look up to. I've said it before: but the Nordic Model of politics, economics, and society is something the ENTIRE WORLD should look up to. The countries making up the Nordic countries are the closest to utopia on the planet. All countries should aspire to be like them; they are a beacon in the modern world.

[Glenni 1,444]

For those of you who are interested to see the various videos shot by people around Oslo the bomb went off, this one is one of the most interesting and in detail videos of what happens, every second, from just minutes before it happened. This one should be clean, some bloody faces of course, but otherwise it shows no truly hideous scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYg_VGZCMh0

  Edited July 25, 2011 by Glenni  

[krbe 193]

. 21 years is not long enough. [...]

I gather that the Norwegian justice system does not allow consecutive sentences.

It is true that consecutive sentences do not exist in Norway, with the maxium punishment being 15 years for most offenses, and up to 20 or 21 years for the gravest.

However, in addition to prison one can be sentenced to detention, a form of punishment that can be prolonged indefinitely every five years; which, if necessary to protect society, means that he can spend the rest of his life behind bars.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

That video shows that Oslo is a nice city that I'd like to visit. It seems to be full of people who don't panic very easily, and although there was a lot of damage, the few casualties are a blessing, as there could have been many more if the streets had been crowded for something like lunch. The drop in casualty count is good to hear, but this atrocity cannot possibly be forgiven.

This should set back the right-wing movements in Europe by a decade or so. I expect there will have to be a general crackdown on these nuts.

Our thoughts and blessings are with Norway.

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Ocram's Razr 963]

I am not surprised by the Unity of the people after this tragedy. It is similar to the unity after 9/11. This early response to an attack like that is typical. The fact that an attack like that occurred means that there was a failure by the government to protect those people, just like there was a failure of the USA government to protect those killed or injured in 9/11. Saying that Norway is superior because of the reaction could come back and bite you if Norway is hit by another attack or the government response is unpopular with people (especially the people who say Norway is superior).

[Glenni 1,444]

Here's a quote from a German newspaper at the courthouse in Oslo where Breivik was being sentenced:

"They Cry With Dignity":

"Even in their deepest sorrows, the Norwegians do not become hysterical. They counter the hate. It is fantastic to see how the politicians and the whole country reacts. They are sad to the deepest threads of their soul. They cry with dignity. But no one swears on vengeance. Instead they want more huamnity, and even more democracy. This is one of the most remarkable strengths of this little country"

  Edited July 25, 2011 by Glenni  

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Alejandro24 575]

Here's a quote from a German newspaper at the courthouse in Oslo where Breivik was being sentenced:

"They Cry With Dignity":

"Even in their deepest sorrows, the Norwegians do not become hysterical. They counter the hate. It is fantastic to see how the politicians and the whole country reacts. They are sad to the deepest threads of their soul. They cry with dignity. But no one swears on vengeance. Instead they want more huamnity, and even more democracy. This is one of the most remarkable strengths of this little country"

I admire hoy the norwegian people are channeling their sorrow.

[chicah 20]

I love my country right now for the rose/torch marches last night.

A very sad memorial video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heueY09wzFY&feature=player_embedded Warning: Some strong images in it. Lyrics of the song is in English on the video.

They have begun releasing names. http://www.dagbladet.no/terror/ofrene/?sendt=1 The ones in black frames are confirmed dead, the ones in grey frames are confirmed missing.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150733935050650.722320.733300649&type=1 My Facebook album of the grief shown in various places around Oslo, which is now a city covered in flowers after, according to the police, as many as 250 000 showed up for the rose tribute. The album should be open to everyone.

Ambulance personnel and volunteers are applauded while walking through the streets of Oslo. (Aaaaaaaw.)

Thanks for all the support.

  Edited July 26, 2011 by chicah  

[Easy Bakes 253]

I love my country right now for the rose/torch marches last night.

A very sad memorial video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heueY09wzFY&feature=player_embedded Warning: Some strong images in it. Lyrics of the song is in English on the video.

They have begun releasing names. http://www.dagbladet.no/terror/ofrene/?sendt=1 The ones in black frames are confirmed dead, the ones in grey frames are confirmed missing.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150733935050650.722320.733300649&type=1 My Facebook album of the grief shown in various places around Oslo, which is now a city covered in flowers after, according to the police, as many as 250 000 showed up for the rose tribute. The album should be open to everyone.

Thanks for all the support.

Who ever took that picture of the lined up ambulances deserves a Pulitzer.

Very intense.

[RipRap 4,400]

Hmmm, Did Anybody Read 'Knights Templar 2083'? It contains several disturbing texts and quotes.

[Alejandro24 575]

Knights Templar 2083 is the video of Breivik in YouTube, a resume of two minutes of all the book 2083 A European Declaration of Independence (don't get confused with the book 2083 by Vicente Muñoz Puelles).

No, I didn't read it, but I've readed in many newspapers that contains quotes from Industrial Society and Its Future by Theodore Kaczynski and use as example Spain in times of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar El Cid -when he ejected the arabs from Spain in the Reconquer, obviously there are not signs of the another part of the history-. But you can find many resume of the book in the net (unless you want to download it to read 1500 pages).

  Edited July 26, 2011 by Alejandro24  

[Timmystwin 201]

I read some of it. The bits i did see mentioned Modern warfare 2, and other bits were similar to the unabombers. Bit weird.

Also i saw that Aonamous were going to make faked edited copies,and pass them on as his. They were basically gonna make him look like and idiot.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I read some of it. The bits i did see mentioned Modern warfare 2, and other bits were similar to the unabombers. Bit weird.

Also i saw that Aonamous were going to make faked edited copies,and pass them on as his. They were basically gonna make him look like and idiot.

I hope no one equates that idiot with me.

I am about as anti-fascist as they come, being one of the few living today who was alive during world war II. Right-wing nationalism is all about having wars with your neighbors, and killing people who are not of your ilk.

This gentleman and I are on the same wavelength.

[chicah 20]

I assume people don't really care anymore, since it's been over a week now. But a lot of us are still affected. I apologize in advance for a long post, I'll publish a blog entry I wrote, translated to English, in an attempt to describe how many of us still feel.

I should explain, in advance, that I've been a member of a political party since I was 16, and I've been at Utøya four summers in a row for our summer camp.

An attempt to describe what’s undescribable

Today’s date is july 29th, it’s 00:23. It’s friday. It has been a week since a bomb exploded outside the government quarters, since almost 70 youths were killed on Utøya – and Norway changed forever. A week that sometimes feels like a day, and sometimes like a year.

I did not know anyone who were on Utøya. I have been one of those who have been spared seeing faces of people I love in the papers, to recognize names of dead and wounded. Therefore, a lot of people seem to think I need to pull myself together. Everyday life will return after this. Who do I think I am? Isn’t it a bit rude for the people who’ve lost someone that I mourn like this?

It is just so awful. The youth politics-scene is small. We all know someone who knows someone. We’ve all talked with several of the people who were at Utøya. Some we’ve debated, some we’ve drank with, some we’ve greeted. The one thing we all have in common is that we are involved, and care about our society. The fact that they cared killed the youth at Utøya. In that aspect, it feels like an attack on all us who are involved with politics. Maybe that’s why I’m so affected. Maybe it is because I have so many friends who’ve lost someone.

Incredibly many feelings have passed through my head this last week. Some are contradictary. If I should come up with any examples, it must be this:

To wake up in the middle of the night, with tears in my eyes and my heart in my throat, without knowing what I’ve dreamt, but to fear it involved dead comrades from my youth party lying dead in pools of blood. To have fun one moment, and feel bottomless despair the next. To feel bad because I’m here, alive, because I can consider what to wear, because I can curse the alarm clock, because I can walk around in a bathrobe watching tv all day. To imagine how the friends and families of the victims must feel. To imagine how those who were actually there must feel. To close my eyes and imagine the hiding places. Where would I have hidden, at the island I love? Would I stay, or swim? Would I rather drown or get shot?

The worst are the feelings I get now, when the disaster is not the only thing that exists anymore. When other things slowly start to find room in my head, when the thought of everyday life does not seem so far-fetched, when the thought of carrying on seems plausible. To do ordinary things for hours, laughing with friends, drinking beer, watching movies, reading books. And then, afterwards, to remember what happened. To feel bad because I, if even for a few hours, mainly thought about something else. Because I forgot. We can never forget. The feeling that I love every member of my youth party incredibly much, what they believe in and what they do, and that I love members of toher youth parties just as much right now, when we stand together. And then the entire process starts over.

I don’t want to be the joy killer, who publishes only sad statuses and images on Facebook. The one who’s very sad, but doesn’t always show it, who prefers to cry alone. But I am her. I am torn between wanting to get back to normal, to have fun, to go on, and to want to drown in the grief and the terrible thought of what happened. And at the same time I feel so much love, for friends and aquaintances, for the nation as a whole, for complete strangers. A love for life.

The indescribable cannot be described. With this entry I mainly tried to sort the thoughts in my head, to try to explain. To know what some might recgonize themselves in it, and that others can understand how differently we react to something like this. Tragedy.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You must not think that people don't care. I for one, do. However, there are other concerns and this is a current events list. When the criminal comes to trial, expect some action. Norway is now undergoing a sea change, I think. Much innocence was lost on that terrible day, and now recovery must begin as mourning ends.

All countries have had their atrocities. It has been nearly forty years since our last one, the FLQ crisis. That one had only one death, but it was very high profile. The PM put Quebec under martial law. It was a time of bombs in the public mailboxes, and finally a fatal kidnapping. It was probably one of the precipitating events that shook us out of our "I'm all right, Jack" complacency and helped unite us more strongly as a nation. Patriating our constitution was one of the main events that followed, along with some new laws to assist in such crises in the future.

It is probably not good for anyone to conduct a vendetta against the police. I am sure they did the best they could with both the information and equipment they had. If anything, they need a little beefing up.

I take it the island didn't have any effective communications means. Such an isolated place is very ripe as a terror target. Large collections of innocents are always a tempting place for an atrocity.

So don't give up. If you really want to continue this conversation, why not create a "Norwegian Affairs" thread in Off-Topic General?

[Meg 368]

I should explain, in advance, that I've been a member of a political party since I was 16, and I've been at Utøya four summers in a row for our summer camp.

yikes! I know what it is like, to see something like this on the news, and see that it is some place you have been and feel connected to. I know a lot of people are hurting but there is an additional knife in your heart when it is somewhere personal.

I assume people don't really care anymore, since it's been over a week now. But a lot of us are still affected. I apologize in advance for a long post, I'll publish a blog entry I wrote, translated to English, in an attempt to describe how many of us still feel.

wow. That is very well written and very moving. You described it very well.

Grief can run hard and it can run deep. But it can taper off. It doesn't always go away but it does become less raw.

[Duke87 1,070]

An interesting story about a couple of heroines.

[Easy Bakes 253]

An interesting story about a couple of heroines.

"You are what you do when it counts."

just love that quote.