DPA
Norway marked the third anniversary of twin bomb and shooting attacks that killed 77 people with a low-key ceremony which kicked off the capital, Oslo.
The commemorations opened at Oslo’s government quarter, where Prime Minister Erna Solberg said her country would continue to “fight for openness, tolerance and diversity”.
A moment of silence was held after a wreath was laid to commemorate the victims.
“The responsibility for the July 22 tragedy rests solely with the assailant,” Solberg said. “Violent extremism can never be excused. But we must do what we can to prevent it. The mutual trust we share in Norway is our strongest asset.”
Right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik was sentenced to 21 years in prison in August 2012 for the bomb and shooting attacks in Oslo and at a political youth camp organised by the Labour Party near the capital.
The attacks were the country’s bloodiest peace-time acts of violence on record.
Breivik, 35, said his aim was to punish the then ruling Labour Party for its failure to stem the flow of Muslims to Norway.
Solberg, leader of the Conservative party, took office last year.
This is the first time she has been tasked with leading the official commemorations.
She attended a memorial service at Oslo Cathedral with other members of the government and opposition, as well as next of kin and survivors of the attacks.
Later, she made her first visit to the small island of Utoya where 69 mainly youths were killed in a shooting spree, and laid a wreath.
Wreaths were also laid by representatives of the Labour Party and a support group for the bereaved.
In their speeches, Labour Party leader Jonas Gahr Store and outgoing youth wing leader Eskil Pedersen underlined the need to remember the victims and stand up against intolerance, racism and hate speech.
“We have a responsibility never to forget those who we so dearly would have wanted to be here with us,” Pedersen said at Utoya.
Store reminded the audience of how the country had “come together and laid differences aside” in the aftermath of the 2011 attacks, and said his party would support Solberg’s efforts to combat political extremism.
Among the guests at the ceremonies was former prime minister and former Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg, whom Solberg lauded for his leadership in the aftermath of the devastating attacks.
