Tears and prayers for Norway's lost lives in Oslo

NORWEGIAN MASSACRE:A KING'S tears summed up better than any words the confusion and distress gripping an entire country yesterday.

Norway’s King Harald wept openly at a church service to honour the 93 people killed in Friday’s twin tragedy that has left Norwegians reeling.

Outside the cathedral, near the site of Friday’s bomb blast, Oslo came to a standstill. Survivors gripped each other to fight back tears as they studied the sea of flowers and candles.

“Each and every life lost is a tragedy,” said a solemn prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, addressing the service. “Together the number of people killed amounts to a national tragedy.”

As the first shock begins to lift, and this morning’s first court appearance of the self-confessed gunman looms, Norwegians are aware that they are facing a democratic dilemma. Should a state, rocked to its foundations by such a violent act, offer a stage to its self-confessed perpetrator?

Anders Behring Breivik clearly hopes so. In a lengthy manifesto attributed to him, the 32 year-old describes his trial as a propaganda opportunity, offering “a stage to the world” to spread his views against what he calls the “Islamisation of Europe”.

With that in mind, he has confessed to Friday’s killing spree, but has not pleaded guilty. This will almost certainly mean a lengthy court appearance.

“He said he believed his actions were atrocious, but in his head they were necessary,” said Geir Lippestad, his lawyer, on Norwegian television.

Tacitly acknowledging the dilemma Norway faces, Mr Stoltenberg said yesterday he was proud of his nation’s stoic response in the face of violence. “Our reply is: more democracy, more openness, and more humanity. But never naiveness.”

Foreign minister Jonas Gahr Stoere agreed that there were “limits” to Norwegian tolerance. “But there are no limits to Norwegians’ dedication to stand up for key values in our society: democracy, rule of law and human rights,” he said. Under Norwegian law, the suspect faces a maximum of 21 years in jail.

Outside Oslo’s cathedral yesterday, the crowd supported the message sent out by their leaders.

“Anytime something like this happens, it is only one person, not a whole society,” said Henning Iversen (39). “This is a terrible event but so much good will come from it, I am sure.”

Earlier, victims and relatives had gathered to mourn at a memorial service at Norderhov Church, not far from Utoeya island. The service was attended by Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit.

Bishop Laila Riksaasen Dahl spoke of the “boundless grief” experienced by all present.

“It is inconceivable for us all and words help little. Words cannot fill the void,” she said. “This day is empty. Walls are missing in our house and words turn into sounds.

Mr Gahr Stoere, who had visited Utoeya island the day before the massacre, spoke of how the young people he had met had enriched his life by their commitment and passion. We must spend a whole future to understand, he told the congregation.

Norwegian police have refused to comment on the motives behind the attacks, which left 93 people dead and 97 injured.

A powerful bomb blast in Oslo’s government quarter on Friday afternoon killed seven and injured 30. Hours later, a shooting spree on Utoeya island, owned by the ruling Labour Party, claimed at least 86 lives and left 67 injured. Some 21 victims are in a serious condition.

Around the island, an hour’s drive from Oslo, boats continued to patrol yesterday while police divers hunted for bodies underwater.

Survivors of the island shooting report that many teenagers, attending a summer camp, fled into the water after the gunman opened fire.

With three people still missing yesterday, police said they would not release the full list of the dead until all bodies were recovered.

For families gathered in a nearby hotel, it could be a long wait. The death toll from the Utoeya massacre is likely to rise in the coming days.

President McAleese extended her condolences to King Harald of Norway and the Norwegian people, “on behalf of the Irish people, in light of the terrible atrocity which was inflicted on them”. The message was passed on by Ireland’s ambassador to Norway, Gary Ansbro.

Police said Breivik surrendered when they arrived on Utoeya after he had shot dead at least 85 people. About 650 people were on the island when Breivik, wearing a police uniform, opened fire. Police said it took them an hour from when they were first alerted to stop the massacre, the worst by a single gunman in modern times.

An inadequate boat and a decision to wait for a special armed unit from Oslo, 45km (28 miles) away, delayed the response.

When so many people and equipment were put into it, the boat started to take on water, so that the motor stopped, said Erik Berga, police operations chief in Buskerud County.

– (Additional reporting: Reuters)