Norway terror attack a ‘personal tragedy’
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A NORWEGIAN living in Caithness has revealed how his father felt the force of last week’s bomb explosion in Oslo – three miles from where it happened.
Harald Ramsøy (48), who lives at Mid-Clyth, was left “numb” by the twin terror attacks which rocked his homeland on Friday.
Seventy-six people died as a result – at least eight were killed in a bomb blast outside the Verdens Gang newspaper offices in Oslo’s city centre on Friday afternoon, and at least 68 died when a gunman fired on students attending the country’s Labour Party’s youth summer camp on the island of Utoeya.
Mr Ramsøy, who works as a field manager, is originally from outside Oslo.
He said as soon as he heard what had happened he contacted his family to make sure they were okay.
“I spoke to my father on the phone who was stuck in a traffic jam,” he told the Caithness Courier yesterday.
“He said that it was a result of the bombing which had taken place. He was situated around three miles from where the explosion happened.
“When the bomb exploded, my father said that he could hear and feel the impact that it made. The force was so strong that he originally thought that someone had crashed into the back of his car.
“But he then realised what had happened when he heard the news on the radio.”
Mr Ramsøy said his father was stuck in traffic for several hours as a result of the explosion.
Anders Behring Breivik has been charged with the deadly attacks.
He appeared in court on Monday and admitted responsibility but denied he was guilty of criminal charges.
The 32-year-old said he carried out the attacks to send a signal to stop the takeover by Muslims and Marxists of the country.
Mr Ramsøy said it was the worst attack he has ever known to happen in post-war Norway.
He said the country is still trying to come to terms with what has happened.
“There has never been anything on this scale before. The more that you find out about it and the reasons behind the attacks, it just numbs you completely.
“I have been in regular contact with family members back home.
“The general feeling is one of shock and anger. It is a personal tragedy for all Norwegians as well as those who it has affected.”
He added: “The ruling party has been in charge of Norway for a long time and has run these youth camps which are very popular. The whole point behind the attacks was to have a go against the current system.”
“Oslo is a small, compact city and the tragedy has hit everyone. The country is used to being an open society where people are able to walk around without a lot of security. Then something like this happens and ruins that way of life.”
He added: “I don’t like the reality that there are people out there who will go to such extreme measures to put their point across.”
Torch-lit processions have taken place in towns and cities across Norway to remember those who died.
Over 100,000 people filled the streets of Oslo city centre on Monday night to take part in a march of peace which was led by Prince Haakon of Norway.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said it had been a resounding “yes” to democracy.
He said the attacks would not prevent the country from being open and democratic.
Have you been affected by the Norway attacks? Comment online at www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk
