For over fifty years, Nordic co-operation has worked in many different ways for a good and democratic society. As the leading politicians in the co-operation, Alexander Stubb and Henrik Dam Kristensen react very strongly to what has happened in Norway, and are very anxious to signal how important it is that we in the Nordic region support each other at a time like this, and encourage each other to continue to uphold and develop an open and human society.

"What has happened is a shock for all of us, a tragedy that brings feelings of great sorrow. Nevertheless, it is at a time like this that we must make efforts to defend the open and tolerant social system that we have in the Nordic countries," said Minister for Co-operation, Alexander Stubb. "We must not give in to extreme groups and their leaders."

"I send my deepest sympathy to the people of Norway after these gruesome events on Friday. The Nordic societies are known for openness, dialogue and democracy. Norway is not alone. We in the Nordic region stand by you at this dreadful time, and we must stick together to protect open Nordic democracy," says Henrik Dam Kristensen, President of the Nordic Council.

Attacks in Norway

At 15.30 on Friday afternoon 22 July, the government buildings in Oslo city centre were shaken by what the police immediately judged to be a terrorist attack. A couple of hours later, fatal shootings were reported about 10 km northwest of Oslo, on Utøya, at a Norwegian Labour Party youth summer camp. The police arrested the gunman that evening and confirmed that the two incidents are connected. Interrogation of the arrested 32-year-old has shown him to be a man of extreme political views.

After the bomb blasts in central Oslo the police were able to confirm seven dead and several injured, some seriously. The explosions caused extensive damage to the government ministerial buildings and the prime minister's office. Neither the Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, nor any other minister has been hurt. Buildings in a radius of one kilometre were hit and people in the city centre were advised to go home or back to their hotel. Central areas of Oslo were cordoned off during the evening and night.

Two hours later news came of shots fired at the summer camp on Utøya, which has developed into a tragedy of immense proportions. The same offender who placed a car bomb outside the government buildings in Oslo had gone to Utøya dressed as a policeman. There he rallied the summer camp's young people on the pretext of recounting what had happened in Oslo, and then started shooting at the young people with handguns. So far the police have established 85 dead, but many more are missing.

Uphold openness

Many people have said that this is the worst that has happened to Norway since the Second World War. Some hours after the bomb attack Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, made the following statement:

"My thoughts go first and foremost to the victims and their families. This is a very serious situation for Oslo, Norway and all open and democratic society."

Like Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Halldór Ásgrímsson, and the Secretary General of the Nordic Council, Jan-Erik Enestam, spoke of the importance of upholding our open society, despite everything:

"We are shocked by what has happened in Norway. First of all our thoughts go to those most closely affected, but also to the threat that now faces our open society. Security measures are naturally of the greatest importance, but we must not be intimidated into introversion. Our work to uphold and develop welfare in the Nordic region must continue uninterrupted."

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