Norwegian media point to lone gunman, naming him and publishing photos
Update 9:20 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The death toll had risen to 87 by Saturday morning in Oslo, Norway, from a bomb at a government office and a gunman’s shooting spree at a youth political camp near the city. It is Europe’s worst attack since the 2004 bombings in Madrid, and Europeans are reacting with shock and worry, given than no group has claimed the concerted attack.
Norwegian media are saying it is the work of a single, lone extremist and they have published his name and photos, although there is no official confirmation of the information (see Sydney Morning Herald‘s report from Australia).
Police ordered people out of the city centre after the 15:30 attacks on the island of Utoya, where the Labour Party’s camp was held, and at the offices of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who was out of the office at the time.
The killer at the political camp was dressed as a police office, and entered saying he was checking security immediately after the bomb went off in the city centre. He was arrested, but only after he managed to “methodically” shoot and kill at least 80 people. Authorities in Norway say he is known to them, a 32-year-old Norwegian, and that he never worked for the police force. Norwegian media are speculating that he is a right-wing extremist who has posted online anti-Islam material.
Other European media note that this is the first time Norway has been the focus of such a terrorist attempt and ask if it is linked to Norway’s role in Afghanistan, as a member of Nato, or if the attacks may have been directed at the offices of the country’s largest tabloid, Verdens Gang, whose offices are near the prime minister’s. The Telegraph in the UK cites WikiLeaks cables, saying Norway’s security services have been unprepared for terrorist attacks.
Links to other sites: Guardian, Le Monde (Fr), NZZ (Ger), Telegraph, TSR (Fr)
Muehleberg peaceful anti-nuclear protest (©2011 Herbi Ditl, flickr.com/photos/herbivore)
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Swiss anti-nuclear groups are continuing to call for an end to nuclear power plants, with the latest in a series of peaceful protests taking place Tuesday 26 April at Muehleberg.
An estimated 500 people formed a human chain around the centre from 07:00 to 08:30, but workers were allowed to enter the plant.
A human chain around BKW, which owns the Muehleberg nuclear power plant in Switzerland, 26 April (©2011 Herbi Ditl, flickr.com/photos/herbivore)
The protest was supported by the Socialist and Green political parties, as well as several groups, including Greenpeace. It marked the day 25 years ago when Chernobyl became the world’s worst nuclear accident, with an explosion and fire at the power plant in Ukraine that spread radioactivity across much of Europe.
The Bernese power station received a vote of confidence from citizens in February, who agreed to plans to rebuild the aging plant, but after Japan’s post-earthquake Fukushima nuclear problems Switzerland’s energy minister, Doris Leuthard, called a temporary halt to all nuclear power plant construction.
The groups protesting in Bern have set up a camp in front of the offices of BKW, which owns Muehleberg, and say they will stay there until the plant is closed down. The city of Bern is currently tolerating their presence.
Ed. note: Herbi Ditl on flickr has a collection of photos of the camp as well as protests
Sion, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The 12-year-old girl from Biel/Bienne who died 10 February from injuries sustained during a school ski trip in canton Valais lost her helmet, police say.
She was close to the top of the steep Arpilles tow bar in Evolène in the Val d’Herens when she slid off, for reasons that are not clear. She then slid 100 metres down the icy path of the tow bar before she hit a padded pylon. During her slide she lost her helmet.
She slid a few more metres after the first crash, into a second pylon, where her head hit the concrete base, presumably causing her fatal injuries.
Title: Kayak and VTT camp for children
Location: Goumois, Jura
Link out: Click here
Description: Camp during October school break, in the French Jura, week of 19 October
Start Date: 19 Oct 2009
End Date: 25 Oct 2009
