It's about three in the afternoon on July 22nd, 2011, near the capital of Norway. A political summer camp is in session, and everything seems normal. Suddenly, a bomb goes off at the camp killing eight people and wounding many others after a car bomb goes off at an executive government building in Oslo. As reporters handle coverage on the bombings, more bad news comes. A mass shooting spree has been recorded at a youth camp on the island of Utoya. At least seventy-seven government workers, camp leaders, and kids are dead.
As news of the deadly attacks comes out, thousands of people begin to grieve. Most of the casualties were the children of every-day Norwegians who thought their youth would be in safe hands at the camp. No one ever saw something this horrific coming. The shooting, which went down in history as "the deadliest attack by a single gunman", was by a man named Anders Behring Breivik. Breivik, who was thirty-two years of age, rode a ferry to the Island of Utoya while he was disguised as a policeman. Breivik then opened fired on the camp.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at a memorial vigil in remembrance of all fallen on the 23rd. Several days after the attacks, private memorial services started being lined up for the casualties of the massacre.
Using Facebook, I found several of the victims. Using Google Translate, I translated many of the messages written by loved ones and friends. Their words are truly heartbreaking but give hope as well. The losses of the Norway attacks were very, very cruel but they will always be remembered.
In memory of the fallen:
"Rest in peace Birgitte <'3'll never forget, and how wonderful you were, you were kind, nice, sweet, and Asked always there for me, you will forever and be in my heart <'3"
"Rest in peace, Rafal. My sister, I love you so much . . ."
"My dear Girl, you are in a better place despite the World will miss you, Gods palace is A better place to be, R.I.P"
"We are very concerned about the death of people who have been killed so brutally and cruelly by this monster. He may never get out of jail, to be totally isolated, no TV, no newspapers or the like, then spend the rest of his life in the cell. Her survivors and relatives since strong and stick together. In our minds we are with you. -Fam"
"This is so unfair to humanity; how can one man take away a life that has so many promising future R.I.P"
"They went far too early . . . If we look at the sky, we like to think that they look at us. Often we remember them . . . Tomorrow . . . At night, when we look at the stars . . . A date . . . A song . . . Somewhere . . . A smell . . . In memory of those who have left us."
Author's Note: Sources: http://translate.google.com/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/europe/norwegian-police-release-names-of-victims-in-last-weeks-massacre/article2109692/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Norway_attacks
http://translation.babylon.com/swedish/to-english/
http://purpleinstyle.blogg.no/#
