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| 'Answer hatred with love': how Norway tried to cope with the horror of Anders Breivik | 'Answer hatred with love': how Norway tried to cope with the horror of Anders Breivik |
| (12 months later) | |
| There are two small models in the hangar-like Oslo studio of the Norwegian sculptor Nico Widerberg – one in bronze, one in plaster – of a square pillar, from the top half of which a silhouette of a human figure has been hollowed. | There are two small models in the hangar-like Oslo studio of the Norwegian sculptor Nico Widerberg – one in bronze, one in plaster – of a square pillar, from the top half of which a silhouette of a human figure has been hollowed. |
| These are the originals for the memorials which, from the 22 July anniversary, will be sent out to more than 50 counties across Norway, to commemorate the 77 people massacred by Anders Breivik, the far-right extremist who goes on trial this week. | These are the originals for the memorials which, from the 22 July anniversary, will be sent out to more than 50 counties across Norway, to commemorate the 77 people massacred by Anders Breivik, the far-right extremist who goes on trial this week. |
| On each of them, words have been carved from a poem by the Norwegian writer Laes Saabye Christensen that was recited at the memorial concert for the victims. This poem, with its message of peace, followed the tone set by prime minister Jens Stoltenberg in his address at the memorial service in Oslo cathedral two days after the tragedy. | On each of them, words have been carved from a poem by the Norwegian writer Laes Saabye Christensen that was recited at the memorial concert for the victims. This poem, with its message of peace, followed the tone set by prime minister Jens Stoltenberg in his address at the memorial service in Oslo cathedral two days after the tragedy. |
| "We are still shocked by what has happened, but we will never give up our values," Stoltenberg said. "Our response is more democracy, more openness, and more humanity." Norway, he suggested, would not seek vengeance as America had done after the 9/11 attacks." We will answer hatred with love," he said. | "We are still shocked by what has happened, but we will never give up our values," Stoltenberg said. "Our response is more democracy, more openness, and more humanity." Norway, he suggested, would not seek vengeance as America had done after the 9/11 attacks." We will answer hatred with love," he said. |
| "It's a clear case where a politician strikes a chord," said Frank Aarebrot, a professor of politics at the University of Bergen. "The prime minister struck almost a Churchillian note in that speech. People were jubilant." | "It's a clear case where a politician strikes a chord," said Frank Aarebrot, a professor of politics at the University of Bergen. "The prime minister struck almost a Churchillian note in that speech. People were jubilant." |
| Norway has granted every legal right to Breivik, despite hearing in gruesome detail of how he coldly executed 56 of his victims with shots to the head, after attacking a Labour party youth camp on the island of Utøya, near Oslo. | Norway has granted every legal right to Breivik, despite hearing in gruesome detail of how he coldly executed 56 of his victims with shots to the head, after attacking a Labour party youth camp on the island of Utøya, near Oslo. |
| This week in court, Breivik will relish the public audience for the anti-Islamic ideology he believes justifies his massacre. | This week in court, Breivik will relish the public audience for the anti-Islamic ideology he believes justifies his massacre. |
| "This will be extremely difficult, an enormous challenge to listen to his explanations," Breivik's defence lawyer Geir Lippestad warned last week. "He will not only defend (his actions) but will also lament, I think, not going further." | "This will be extremely difficult, an enormous challenge to listen to his explanations," Breivik's defence lawyer Geir Lippestad warned last week. "He will not only defend (his actions) but will also lament, I think, not going further." |
| Some believe Breivik should not be given the podium. "Why does he have to explain in the court what his ideology is? We don't care. We know it already," said Jarl Robert Christensen, who lost his 15-year-old daughter Birgitta on the island. "Why give him the satisfaction of letting him speak freely for almost a week?" | Some believe Breivik should not be given the podium. "Why does he have to explain in the court what his ideology is? We don't care. We know it already," said Jarl Robert Christensen, who lost his 15-year-old daughter Birgitta on the island. "Why give him the satisfaction of letting him speak freely for almost a week?" |
| But other victims believe Breivik should be treated no differently. "It's important for many people not to let feelings of hatred take over, and not to expect that, since this is a very extraordinary crime, he should be handled in an extreme way," said Ali Esbati, 35, who emerged from his hiding place on Utøya to find the island littered with bodies. "The idea of vengeance, that he should suffer very much, or that we need to be extremely harsh on him, is not very dominant in the Norwegian debate, and that's a strength of Norwegian society." | But other victims believe Breivik should be treated no differently. "It's important for many people not to let feelings of hatred take over, and not to expect that, since this is a very extraordinary crime, he should be handled in an extreme way," said Ali Esbati, 35, who emerged from his hiding place on Utøya to find the island littered with bodies. "The idea of vengeance, that he should suffer very much, or that we need to be extremely harsh on him, is not very dominant in the Norwegian debate, and that's a strength of Norwegian society." |
| Prosecutors are not even pushing for the maximum 30-year sentence available under Norwegian law. They are pursuing a terrorism charge, which carries a maximum 21 years, rather than prosecuting for crimes against humanity. | Prosecutors are not even pushing for the maximum 30-year sentence available under Norwegian law. They are pursuing a terrorism charge, which carries a maximum 21 years, rather than prosecuting for crimes against humanity. |
| Frank Aaberot, who was in Britain attending a watercolour course at the time of Breivik's attack, was struck by the reaction of his classmates. "These liberal Brits immediately said, 'Why didn't they shoot him? Why didn't they shoot him?'" he remembered. "As a Norwegian, I immediately thought about the relatives and the survivors, all those things were at the top of my mind. I noticed, immediately, this British-Norwegian contrast." | Frank Aaberot, who was in Britain attending a watercolour course at the time of Breivik's attack, was struck by the reaction of his classmates. "These liberal Brits immediately said, 'Why didn't they shoot him? Why didn't they shoot him?'" he remembered. "As a Norwegian, I immediately thought about the relatives and the survivors, all those things were at the top of my mind. I noticed, immediately, this British-Norwegian contrast." |
| After Stoltenberg's speech, Norway rallied around their prime minister, with even opposition politicians expressing support. "We all applaud the prime minister for the way he led the nation after this attack," said Morten Høglund, of the rightwing Progress party. | After Stoltenberg's speech, Norway rallied around their prime minister, with even opposition politicians expressing support. "We all applaud the prime minister for the way he led the nation after this attack," said Morten Høglund, of the rightwing Progress party. |
| But as the months have passed it has been harder to suppress bitterness. "It's awful, actually, to have to think of what happened every day," said Arni Hole, a senior civil servant as she mounted her bicycle on Friday night, gesturing towards the boarded-up windows of the government quarter where Breivik parked his Volkswagen van loaded with explosives, killing eight people and wounding many more. | But as the months have passed it has been harder to suppress bitterness. "It's awful, actually, to have to think of what happened every day," said Arni Hole, a senior civil servant as she mounted her bicycle on Friday night, gesturing towards the boarded-up windows of the government quarter where Breivik parked his Volkswagen van loaded with explosives, killing eight people and wounding many more. |
| The media has also become more critical. "There have been, as far as I can see, no political suggestions on how to expand 'democracy, openness, and humanity'," said John Olav Egeland, a columnist and former editor of the newspaper Dagbladet. "He has concentrated on more security and more safety, which after a terrorist attack is maybe politically more viable than the other way around." | The media has also become more critical. "There have been, as far as I can see, no political suggestions on how to expand 'democracy, openness, and humanity'," said John Olav Egeland, a columnist and former editor of the newspaper Dagbladet. "He has concentrated on more security and more safety, which after a terrorist attack is maybe politically more viable than the other way around." |
| So far, these extra security measures have been limited to car barricades around some government buildings and 200 additional police officers – hardly a crackdown. Increased surveillance is only likely if recommended in August by an official inquiry. | So far, these extra security measures have been limited to car barricades around some government buildings and 200 additional police officers – hardly a crackdown. Increased surveillance is only likely if recommended in August by an official inquiry. |
| Janne Kristiansen, head of the intelligence services, was forced to resign earlier this year. She had faced harsh media criticism for arguing that her service should not be held responsible for failing to catch Breivik, arguing that her service would have needed "a chip inside the head of every single Norwegian" to spot him. | Janne Kristiansen, head of the intelligence services, was forced to resign earlier this year. She had faced harsh media criticism for arguing that her service should not be held responsible for failing to catch Breivik, arguing that her service would have needed "a chip inside the head of every single Norwegian" to spot him. |
| The media has also unsettled Norway's tolerance by unearthing every detail, from Breivik's confidential psychiatric reports, to police interviews with him, to the easy regime he faces in prison. | The media has also unsettled Norway's tolerance by unearthing every detail, from Breivik's confidential psychiatric reports, to police interviews with him, to the easy regime he faces in prison. |
| "The whole investigation has been leaking like crazy," says Anne Leer, a BBC journalist whose documentary on the attacks airs on BBC2 on Sunday. "The access to the sensitive and confidential material has been phenomenal." She said most of the 40-plus victims she interviewed resented the coverage Breivik had received. "Almost all of them do not want to give this man a second of their thoughts; they just couldn't care less. They say he's 'a non-person' who doesn't deserve any attention," she said. | "The whole investigation has been leaking like crazy," says Anne Leer, a BBC journalist whose documentary on the attacks airs on BBC2 on Sunday. "The access to the sensitive and confidential material has been phenomenal." She said most of the 40-plus victims she interviewed resented the coverage Breivik had received. "Almost all of them do not want to give this man a second of their thoughts; they just couldn't care less. They say he's 'a non-person' who doesn't deserve any attention," she said. |
| Last week, a survey found as many as 68 per cent of Norwegians believed that the coverage has been excessive. | Last week, a survey found as many as 68 per cent of Norwegians believed that the coverage has been excessive. |
| From Monday Dagbladet will put a filter on its website, allowing users to opt out of all trial coverage at the press of a button. But otherwise the media has paid little heed to the public weariness. Last week the main media trade body even complained that the Oslo court had violated Stoltenberg's call for "more openness" by refusing permission to broadcast Breivik's testimony live on television. | From Monday Dagbladet will put a filter on its website, allowing users to opt out of all trial coverage at the press of a button. But otherwise the media has paid little heed to the public weariness. Last week the main media trade body even complained that the Oslo court had violated Stoltenberg's call for "more openness" by refusing permission to broadcast Breivik's testimony live on television. |
| Marit Nybakk, the Labour politician who is the third vice-president of the Norwegian parliament, defended the decision not to clamp down on coverage, despite prosecutors complaining that the leaks were inhibiting their investigation. "It's the media's right," she said. "I fully understand and I have full sympathy with the survivors, but we have a free press." | Marit Nybakk, the Labour politician who is the third vice-president of the Norwegian parliament, defended the decision not to clamp down on coverage, despite prosecutors complaining that the leaks were inhibiting their investigation. "It's the media's right," she said. "I fully understand and I have full sympathy with the survivors, but we have a free press." |
| The most difficult time came in November when the psychiatrists assessing Breivik declared that he was a paranoid schizophrenic who could not be held responsible for his actions. | The most difficult time came in November when the psychiatrists assessing Breivik declared that he was a paranoid schizophrenic who could not be held responsible for his actions. |
| Dr Michael Stone, an expert on forensic psychiatry at Columbia University, New York, said it was a conclusion no psychiatrist in the US would have reached. "I have the impression that 'insane' in Scandinavia is more or less synonymous with 'crazy', which casts a wider net than 'insane' as a legal term," he said. "Breivik, as far as I can put together, is of a paranoid and narcissistic personality configuration, like most terrorists." | Dr Michael Stone, an expert on forensic psychiatry at Columbia University, New York, said it was a conclusion no psychiatrist in the US would have reached. "I have the impression that 'insane' in Scandinavia is more or less synonymous with 'crazy', which casts a wider net than 'insane' as a legal term," he said. "Breivik, as far as I can put together, is of a paranoid and narcissistic personality configuration, like most terrorists." |
| A second assessment, commissioned by the court at the request of the victims' lawyers, concluded last week that Breivik was sane, leaving the final decision up to the judges. | A second assessment, commissioned by the court at the request of the victims' lawyers, concluded last week that Breivik was sane, leaving the final decision up to the judges. |
| But many victims say Breivik's future does not concern them. "I don't really care if he's rotting in a hole with rats or being forced to paint rainbows and unicorns in a madhouse," says Torbjorn Vereide, a 23-year-old Labour activist. "I don't really care about his fate, just so long as he's locked up and put away from other people." | But many victims say Breivik's future does not concern them. "I don't really care if he's rotting in a hole with rats or being forced to paint rainbows and unicorns in a madhouse," says Torbjorn Vereide, a 23-year-old Labour activist. "I don't really care about his fate, just so long as he's locked up and put away from other people." |
| On Friday, in a televised statement, Stoltenberg said: "I am not among those who will sit for hours and follow the proceedings. In part, that is because I do not have time for it and partly because it is not meaningful." | On Friday, in a televised statement, Stoltenberg said: "I am not among those who will sit for hours and follow the proceedings. In part, that is because I do not have time for it and partly because it is not meaningful." |
| Nybakk said she hoped prosecutors found legal arguments to prevent Breivik manipulating the trial to make grandiose statements. "People now are very taken aback by what they see as a kind of manipulation by Mr Breivik. His lawyers have put forward a group of witnesses, including celebrities in Norway, from both left and right. But we trust the courts and I think that the prosecutors will not let him have his show." | Nybakk said she hoped prosecutors found legal arguments to prevent Breivik manipulating the trial to make grandiose statements. "People now are very taken aback by what they see as a kind of manipulation by Mr Breivik. His lawyers have put forward a group of witnesses, including celebrities in Norway, from both left and right. But we trust the courts and I think that the prosecutors will not let him have his show." |
| Throughout the 10 weeks of the trial, a team of stonemasons in the wooded countryside outside Oslo will be chipping away at the monuments designed to ensure that Breivik's victims will be remembered long after their killer's moment in the spotlight. | Throughout the 10 weeks of the trial, a team of stonemasons in the wooded countryside outside Oslo will be chipping away at the monuments designed to ensure that Breivik's victims will be remembered long after their killer's moment in the spotlight. |
| "They're all individual pieces of stone, but it's the same sculpture, it's the same poem and the same date," said Widerberg. "The idea is that they're all linked, so you can recognise that this is a community that lost someone." | "They're all individual pieces of stone, but it's the same sculpture, it's the same poem and the same date," said Widerberg. "The idea is that they're all linked, so you can recognise that this is a community that lost someone." |
| • This article was amended on 26 April 2012. The original misspelled Professor Frank Aarebrot as Frank Aaberot. This has been corrected. | • This article was amended on 26 April 2012. The original misspelled Professor Frank Aarebrot as Frank Aaberot. This has been corrected. |
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