Painful visit
August 20, 2011
Survivors of the July 22 massacre that killed 69 people on the Norwegian island of Utoeya revisited the scene of their ordeal on Saturday, a day after relatives of the victims visited the island.
Both events were organized by Norwegian security services, but held separately on Friday and Saturday.
"I know this is going to be a very difficult day to live through, but I also know this is necessary to lighten my burden in the future," said Adrian Pracon whose shoulder was hit by one of the killer's bullets.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and other members of the government joined the survivors on the island, who lit candles, placed flowers and left cards where friends had died.
"It was tough to return to a place where friends were killed," Eskil Pedersen, leader of the Labour Party youth wing, told reporters. But he said it was "great to also see a few smiles again."
Pedersen had managed to flee the island unharmed when the shooting began.
Shortly after the attacks, Pedersen promised that the youth wing would reclaim the island in the name of the victims and survivors, and not be cowed into submission as the attacker had wanted.
Relatives seek answers
On Friday, relatives who so wished could see for themselves where the victims' bodies were found, said Per Kristen Brekke, a senior official with Norway's Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency.
The 500 visitors were accompanied by psychologists, clergymen and members of the investigation team.
The visits come ahead of a national day of remembrance planned for Sunday.
Breivik back in court
Meanwhile, an Oslo court ruled Friday that the shooter must remain in solitary confinement until September 19.
A four-week limit on isolation was due to expire on Monday, and police had requested permission to hold Anders Behring Breivik longer in order to aid their investigation.
Breivik will likely remain in prison until he goes to trial next year, but his conditions of confinement may be relaxed.
The 32-year old has confessed to the July 22 shooting on the island 25 miles northwest of Oslo, as well as to detonating a car bomb in downtown Oslo that killed eight people just hours before.
Author: Sarah Harman, Nicole Goebel (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Susan Houlton, Kyle James