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May 23rd
Home News Non-state Actors Shocking Terrorist Attacks in Norway
Shocking Terrorist Attacks in Norway
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La Nación and BBC, with comments by NPSGlobal, 23 Jul 2011.

A bomb hit the government buildings in Oslo and the action of a shooter in a meeting of the Labor Party left a death toll of 91, and a big quantity of wounded people. NPSGlobal joins its voice to the international condemnation raised and expresses its sincere sympathy to the people and government of Norway, a nation worldwide acknowledged for its deep vocation of peace.

The Norwegian capital had to face in the same day two of the worst terrorist attacks in the nation's history: yesterday afternoon a powerful bomb exploded at the governemental complex, located in the center of Oslo. Seven people died and fifteen were wounded; a few hours after that, a man started shooting people in a camp meeting organized by the young wing of the Labor Party in an island not far from the city. In this second attack 84 people were killed.

The political meeting in the Utoya Island was ready to receive the visit of the Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, who belongs to the named party.

The police director Ystein Mland commented that the situation is still unclear, but he stated that many bodies had been found in the island, and therefore the detah toll could increase. He considered the attack as of "catastrophic dimensions." Declarations from eye witnesses pointed that the attacker wore a police uniform.

On the other hand, the Minister of Justice, Knut Storberget, announced that the police captured a Norwegian suspect, Anders Behring Breivik, 32 years old, who would be involved in both attacks.

The explosion caused damages the the front of the government building. The governmental complex was totally evacuated, as well as the headquarters of the Verdens Gang (VG), a local newspaper, also affected.


 


The attack was firstly vindicated by the yihadist group Ansar al-Yihad al-Alami, but the same islamist organization retracted it self through an internet post.

During the day, different media considered the posibility of being Al Qaida the authors of the attacks but this hypothesis never was confirmed. It was based on the fact that Norway is a member of NATO, and the country has participated in international missions in Afghanistan.

Worldwide condemnation

By means of the TV the Norwegian prime minister reinforced the compromise of Norway with its national identity:" No one will bomb us to silence; no one will shoot us to silence; no one will ever scare us from being Norway." Stoltenberg stated.

The president of the United States, Barack Obama, gave his condolences to the Norwegian people and stated: "This is a reminder that the entire international community has the mission to prevent this kind of terrorist acts."

Many leaders worldwide have also sent their condolences and thoughts of support to the Nordic nation.

NPSGlobal highlights the fact that Norwegian government kindly supports our actions, in particular our Education programs, so as we feel very close to the deep sorrow produced by these attacks and we condemn all expressions of terrorism, despite of their motives or ideological signs.

 

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