Norway to remain open society despite deadly attacks
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Xinhua, July 24, 2011
Norway will remain an open society despite Friday's twin attacks that killed at least 92 people, the country's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said Saturday.
"Every government will have to look after the security of its people, and we have to take this very seriously," the foreign minister said.
"But I believe you find across-the-board rallying in Norway now about the values of an open society. We do not want to give in to those who act with terror," he told Xinhua.
His comments came in the wake of a bomb blast in central Oslo, Norway's capital, and later a shooting spree on the tiny island of Utoeya about 40 km west of the Norwegian capital Friday afternoon, where most of the fatalities occurred.
When the shooting spree started, a summer conference for the youth wing of Norway's Labor Party was in progress on the island, with most attendees between the ages of 14 and 19, authorities said.
It is believed both both attacks were connected.
"It struck our democracy and it struck our youth," Stoere said of the attacks, adding that Norway would "rally around those who need comfort and solidarity."
Norwegian police data show seven people were killed and nine critically injured in the bomb blast, while 85 others were dead following the shoot-out on the island.
"It is the combination of the bomb explosion and the gunfire at the Labor Party's youth camp that makes this a very, very serious attack on the Norwegian people, Norwegian society and the values we stand for," said Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, while inspecting the bomb-damaged sites Saturday.
Police detained suspect Anders Behring Breivik, 32, who allegedly committed the shooting spree on Utoeya Island late Friday. The suspect is believed to hold extreme right-wing views and conservative Christian beliefs.
As police investigations are continuing, Norway will ensure youth activities will continue and receive support, Stoere said.
"Risk is there always, but I believe Norway remains a safe country, and it is the responsibility of the government to maintain that," the foreign minister said.
