World

Norway Massacre Survivors Return to Scene of Death

Norway Utoya Island Massacre Survivors Return to Scene of Death

Survivors of the July 22 Norwegian island massacre returned to the site Saturday with their relatives. (ITN News)

UTVIKA, Norway (The Blaze/AP) — One week after confessed Norway shooter Anders Behring Breivik returned with authorities to the island site of the massacre that left 69 people dead, survivors revisited the scene of the killings on Saturday to grieve their lost friends.

Up to 1,000 survivors and relatives were expected on Utoya island, accompanied by police and medical staff, to face the painful memories of the shooting spree by a right-wing extremist.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said he too would visit Utoya, “to take part in their mourning and be there for them (the survivors).”

“I will be there as a friend, as a prime minister,” he said.

Breivik has admitted killing 77 people on July 22 when he first detonated a truck bomb outside government offices in the capital, Oslo, and then went on a shooting spree on the island, some 25 miles (40 kilometers) away.

Breivik denies criminal guilt because he believes the massacre was necessary to save Norway and Europe. He said the attacks were an attempt at cultural revolution, aimed at purging Europe of Muslims and punishing politicians that have embraced multiculturalism.

On Friday, the Oslo District Court extended Breivik’s isolation detention by another four weeks saying it still does not know if he acted alone.

Police said they wanted to keep Breivik in isolation because they didn’t want him to talk to other inmates, although they still believe he acted alone.

Breivik’s case is not expected to open until next year. If found guilty on terrorism charges, he could be sentenced to 21 years in prison. An alternative custody arrangement – if he is still considered a danger to the public – could keep him behind bars indefinitely.

Near Utoya, Norway’s General Director of Health Bjoern Inge Larsen told reporters he hoped the visits to the island would help survivors and families of the victims come to grips with the deaths.

“The people going there today … have a lot of anxiety,” Larsen said, as he prepared to accompany survivors onto Utoya. “They were life-threatened on this island four weeks ago in a very traumatizing manner, so what we are prepared for is to help them to overcome that anxiety.”

In the distance, ferries and a pontoon transported survivors, in bright orange life vests, to the forested island used by the ruling Labor Party for political functions, camping and celebrations.

Per Brekke, logistics chief of the operation, said planning the visits had been a big challenge.

“But, of course, the challenge for each individual to re-enter the island is much bigger,” he said.

The heavily guarded island, where 400 health care workers, police and other officials escorted the survivors, was visited on Friday by families and friends of the victims killed in the shooting spree.

On Sunday, a national memorial service is to be held at Oslo Spektrum arena, marking the end of a month of mourning in the Scandinavian country.

Comments (31)

  • hempstead1944
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 9:42pm

    Is there something in the water in Norway? Normal people would be outraged by this guy…..

    Report Post »  
  • nptden
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 4:09am

    So socialist. Collective resolution. Sad he killed kids. However,his thinking is correct regarding the invasion of Europe by Jihadist’s. Europe will get what it deserves. Time for us to consolidate and protect our own shores, and ferret out the commies in our own country, before it is too late. We know who they are progressive liberals. Organizations like La Razza , the Muslim Brotherhood, Farrakan, Black Panthers and all the ‘social’ programs that cater to their philosophy.

    Report Post » nptden  
    • Norge
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 2:21pm

      I am Norwegian. My sister was invited to the camp – luckily she did not go. Arbeider partiet is not a far left political party. This party is a strong supporter of USA, serving both in the Middle-East and North-Africa. These kids wanted to get involved, to learn and, in time, maybe lead the country. Their lives were cut short by a far-right extremist. Killing innocent people/ kids is wrong – no matter what! Let’s pray it never happens again. The country was unprepared to deal with the situation, but they will learn, and adapt. Hate is not the answer.

      Report Post »  
    • R. Wirz von Urikon
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 7:02pm

      Dear Norge: Translated into English, Arbeider partiet means “worker’s party.” It stinks of Marxism. Besides, I saw photos of these kids holding signs supporting Palestinian terrorism. I guess your guys got what was coming to them. Screw you.

      Report Post »  
  • LeftyLieDetector
    Posted on August 21, 2011 at 2:15am

    Ahhhhh… The Hitler Youth return to the scene of the crime. Maybe they can blame the Jews and make themselves feel better again.

    Report Post » LeftyLieDetector  
  • miles from nowhere
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:07pm

    I want to know if Norway is going to learn anything from what happened, Norway needs to kick all the Muslims out and take back there country before it is to late, same for many countries in Europe.

    Report Post »  
  • 66 bronco
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:56pm

    I certainly don’t support these young (commie) kids’ political stances/views but two wrongs don’t might a right! The shooter had no right take his discontent to violence (mass murder) to right the wrongs of communism.

    Is there a point of which violence is needed return back to Freedom and Liberty or defend what little Freedom is left in this world??? I believe the answer would be, “yes” because our Founding Fathers of this Great (at least once great) Nation thought so too but it was the thing they tried! At what point do the scales have to tip where violences is the only solution??? I honestly don’t know!!! Who willing to run that risk of being the first person to pull the trigger like Breivik??? When it comes to defending “Freedom” there is a very… very fine line between “offense” and “defense.” What Brievik did we all know that wasn’t “defense!”

    Report Post »  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:06pm

    Innocent people were killed by ONE armed maniac. He is at fault for all of the deaths. He is the one who pulled the triggers. No one else is at fault here. I sincerely hope & pray that the survivors get the help they will need to go on with their lives.

    Report Post »  
    • wild72
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 3:41pm

      Kill for freedom! Soon u will not have a choice!

      Report Post » wild72  
    • euragone
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:51pm

      Anders a Maniac.. Don’t you mean Hero and has opened the eyes of many in Europe if not the World…..

      Report Post » euragone  
    • tarbush
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:24pm

      But law abiding firearm owners in this country will be targeted by the federal government because of this. The prez has recently said he ‘fears a lone wolf attack’ similar to norway. Even though this was some kind of leftist camp, what if one adult on that island was carrying a gun? How many lives would have been spared?

      Report Post »  
  • BellaMia7
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:47pm

    Shame on these adults for being “un-response-able” in the face of a deadly danger. Even animals instinctively protect their young. There were 700 people on the island and yet they allowed teenagers to be slaughtered, due to their lack of preparation. Even the so-called security guard was unarmed. What was he protecting? The candy and camp memorabilia in the camp store? One 23-year-old was described in an article saying that he had “cowered” behind a rock. The king has vowed that Norway will not become more defensive but remain open. Is this a nation of lazy cowards? (The children are of course completely innocent.)

    Report Post » BellaMia7  
    • pecosval
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:47pm

      I lived in Europe for 11 years…..they are all lazy cowards..that is why I left

      Report Post »  
    • wordweaver
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:55pm

      And this is the land that brought you the Vikings! Where’s Hagar when you need him?

      Report Post » wordweaver  
  • Look4DBigPicture
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:54pm

    @ThoreauHD … Their political views are irrelevant at this point. These were unarmed children who were gunned down by a cold blooded murderer.

    Report Post »  
  • HotBreakingStory
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 8:53am

    Another Psy-ops event? Soon we will know the truth.

    Here’s what Osama, Obama, Biden, Bin Laden, the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists, and Sarah Palin had to do with the last presidential election and the military’s overthrow of our government.

    http://alturl.com/ek4dn

    Report Post » HotBreakingStory  
    • chazman
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:49pm

      … and this is suppose to bring closure to those people? I wouldn’t go near that place.

      Report Post »  
    • wordweaver
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:57pm

      Seems a bit soon for the victims to be going back there. I’m no shrink, but I would think maybe a year from now would be better, if they feel they need to go back at all.

      Report Post » wordweaver  
  • piper60
    Posted on August 20, 2011 at 8:46am

    This reminds me of holocaust survivors returning to Aushwitz. I hope these people will come through their trauma and can get on with their lives. I‘m sure they won’t ever forget it.

    Report Post » piper60  
    • ThoreauHD
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:45pm

      The holocaust survivor‘s weren’t socialists. They are. It’s a commi day camp.

      Report Post » ThoreauHD  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:51pm

      I agree with Thor. While, yeah , it was kinda low to mow down young kids, they were being trained and brainwashed to be tyranical, oppressive commies anyway. I know that sounds evil, but communism is worse than evil, it is demonic. So….. I don’t care.

      Report Post »  
    • southernloyalty
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:05pm

      Actually many Holocaust survivors were commies who belonged to small Bolshevik parties set up all across Europe. Study history, not propaganda and you’ll learn Jews in both Europe and Russia at the time during and after the period of WWI were heavy supporters of Communism. This support became widespread after the successful takeover of Russia by the Bolsheviks, who’s top leadership consisted of many Jews such as Leon Trostky. Hitler and many Europeans caught on to the trend, however it was no excuse to exterminate all Jews. Despite their numbers in population they had heavy financial backing from both Bolsheviks in Russia and Jews in the U.S. Read about Jacob Schiff who actually funded the Bolshevik/Communist Revolution in Russia. He was a Jewish American banker. So to say none of the holocaust victims were commies or supporters of communism is absurb.

      Report Post »  
    • Nick84
      Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:56pm

      “Kinda low” of him to slaughter innocent people?

      http://troll.me/images/futurama-fry/cant-tell-if-troll-or-just-extremely-stupid.jpg

      Report Post »  
    • R. Wirz von Urikon
      Posted on August 21, 2011 at 7:08pm

      Nicik84: There’s no such person as an innocent communist.

      Report Post »  

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