SPECIAL SERVICES were held in Norway today to commemorate the victims of the Oslo bomb attack and a mass shooting on the island of Utoya on Friday.
Officials confirmed today that the death toll had risen to 77*, after one of those injured in the shooting died from their injuries in hospital.
Families of the victims of the two attacks were joined at a service in Oslo Cathedral by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and members of Norway’s royal family, who broke down in tears during the ceremony.
Addressing those gathered for the commemoration, Stoltenberg said:
We are crying with you.
Every single one of those we have lost is a tragedy in itself. Together, it is a national tragedy.
Police are still questioning a 32-year-old Norwegian man, identified as Anders Behring Breivik, in connection with the attacks. He has been charged with terrorism offences and is due in court tomorrow.
His lawyer said this morning that Breivik has admitted responsibility for the Oslo city centre bombing and the gun attack on Utoya island, but claims he did not break the law. He said that he had believed the attacks were necessary in order to change Norwegian society.
The search for further victims continues. Authorities fear some of the teenagers fleeing the gunman may have drowned in the water surrounding Utoya as they tried to swim to safety.
*Note: Since this article was originally published, the death toll has been revised down to 77.
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